Jaipur, July 31 (IANS) As people in Rajasthan continued to suffer from the disruption in electricity supplies, the state government Tuesday rebutted the union power ministry’s charge that it was overdrawing power beyond its limit from the Northern Grid.
“We are overdrawing much below our permissible limit,” state Energy Minister Jitendra Singh said. He however did not give any figures.
Some states, including Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab have been held responsible for the Northern Grid tripping due to their overdrawing power.
There were reports that Rajasthan had overdrawn at least 800 MW from the grid.
Singh told reporters at a press conference here Tuesday that all possible efforts are being made to restore supplies and relieve the people of their ordeal.
“We have mostly recovered from the blackout. Power supply has been resorted to at least 70 percent urban areas in the state. We hope that complete normalcy will be resorted by late night. The state government is in touch with the union government,” he said.
Power supply snapped around noon in almost all districts in the state. It was restored at most places by 4.30 p.m.
A senior electricity department official said the problem might continue to persist in most of the rural areas. “Besides, proper power supply to the industries will not be possible until the situation is completely normal,” the officer added.
As per reports, services were badly hit at hospitals, government offices and railway and roadways offices.
“Several surgeries were halted in the state’s biggest hospital, the government-run Sawai Man Singh Hospital due to power disruption. The power supply to even intensive care units (ICUs) were disrupted,” a senior doctor at the hospital told IANS.
Similarly, passengers at the Jaipur Railway Station and Sindhi Camp bus stand suffered as the computer broke down at these places leading to a chaotic situation. Several trains were cancelled due to the disruption.
