In order to meet a 500 MW (Megawatt) supply shortage, the Gujarat government imposed a power cut on industries on Wednesday, asking them to implement a weekly staggered holiday.
The weekly staggered holiday is effective immediately for all high-tension and low-tension users, according to an order issued by the state-run Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL). The order, however, is limited to industries with non-continuous processes.
“It is requested to inform all field offices and industrial organisations within your jurisdiction for mandatory implementation,” the order states. According to a senior GUVNL official, the average peak electricity demand in Gujarat is between 18,000 MW and 19,000 MW, 60 per cent of which is from industrial sector.
“This weekly off for industries has been there for several years but it was optional if they wanted to switch off once a week. We never made it mandatory. But the power demand has shot up suddenly. There has been demand for electricity from agricultural users as well because of the harvesting season, which is expected to end in the next 15 days. This has created a average daily shortage of over 500 MW,” said a senior official from GUVNL, speaking to The Indian Express.
“The situation is expected to improve in the next 15 days,” the official added. As per the GUVNL order, industries in all the 33 districts will observe a mandatory holiday once a week (See table).
The agriculture sector in Gujarat has been facing a six-hour power cut for the past several weeks that forced the Congress to raise the issue several times during the ongoing session of the Gujarat Assembly. The Congress suggested to the government to impose a power cut on industries and supply adequate power to farmers.
While industries in Gujarat consume almost 60 per cent of the power, agriculture accounts for 22 per cent of the total consumption, while 18 per cent is consumed by domestic users.
Pointing at the difficulties due to power staggering, the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has written a letter to JP Shivhare, Managing Director of GUVNL, saying the decision will be a “death blow” to industries who have resumed functioning at full capacity after the Covid pandemic.
Shah also stated that the decision, which would have a significant impact on industries, was made without notice. The GCCI requested that the decision be delayed for a fortnight so that alternative arrangements could be made.