Noida Residents Protest Power Cuts and High Electricity Bills Amid Summer Heat
As summer approaches, residents across multiple sectors in Noida have raised serious concerns over frequent power cuts and unexpectedly high electricity bills, leading to formal complaints being lodged with the power department. The issues have sparked widespread agitation among the community, with resident welfare associations (RWAs) demanding immediate action to address the disruptions.
Persistent Outages Disrupt Daily Life
In a letter addressed to the chief engineer of the PVVNL's Noida division, the RWA of Sector 19 highlighted that residents have been enduring power outages lasting up to three hours daily for over two weeks. RC Gupta, president of the Sector 19 RWA, expressed the residents' frustration, stating, "Residents are agitated, facing significant disruptions in their daily lives. We urge prompt action. If the outages do not cease, we will escalate the matter to the Uttar Pradesh government."
Gupta further questioned the varying explanations provided by officials for the disruptions. He noted, "Officials cited reasons ranging from transformer repairs to tree trimming near power lines. However, the persistent nature of these outages left many residents questioning the reliability of the power supply."
Widespread Complaints Across Sectors
Similar grievances have emerged from other sectors, including Sectors 62, 26, 30, 100, and 105. Deepak Sharma, RWA president of Sector 105, reported that residents in his area have faced outages lasting between 30 minutes and two hours, severely affecting routine activities such as work, study, and household chores.
Adding to the discontent, Pawan Yadav, RWA president of Sector 100 and treasurer of the Federation of Noida Resident Welfare Associations, alleged a sharp and unexplained spike in electricity bills. He stated, "The electricity bills in our entire sector suddenly doubled. From earlier amounts of Rs 2,000-3,000, the bills for many residents this month came to Rs 4,000-5,000." This increase has compounded the residents' frustrations, especially amid the ongoing power supply issues.
Call for Accountability and Resolution
The collective complaints underscore a growing demand for accountability from the power department. Residents are calling for:
- Immediate restoration of stable power supply to prevent further disruptions.
- Transparent explanations for the frequent outages and high bills.
- Swift corrective measures to ensure reliable electricity services as temperatures rise.
With the threat of escalation to higher authorities, the situation highlights the urgent need for effective governance and infrastructure maintenance in Noida's power sector. As summer intensifies, the resolution of these issues will be critical to maintaining public trust and quality of life for the city's residents.
