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Coming to terms with reality on the power scenario, industrialists in Mysore have adjusted themselves to the 3-4 hour daily power cuts.
"We have come to terms with the situation the power supply companies are facing in Mysore due to a shortage in the quantum of power being supplied to Mysore. They too have no other go but effect load-shedding during peak hours. Under such a scenario, it is inevitable for us too to cope with the situation and manage our industries," says Suresh Kumar Jain, General Secretary, Mysore Industries Association (MIA).
Speaking to Business Standard on Tuesday, he said, "The situation this time is so bad Krishnarajasagar is almost dry and has affected drinking water supply to Mysore. Inadequate rainfall last year has affected all around, curtailing power production too. There is no other go for us except to manage our units too in such a difficult situation."
Besides, the bad downturn had also affected the earnings of industrialists with fallen demand. Small and medium industries in particular were passing through a difficult situation, Jain said.
"One helpful move by the Chamundeswari Electricity Supply Company (CESC) is the prior intimation they are giving us about time and duration of load-sheeding. They are regularly sending us SMS messages in advance as to when power supply will be cut and for how long, whether 3.5 hours or four hours, say for example from 6.30 pm to 10 pm, and requesting us to co-operate. This has helped us to overcome the hassles of sudden load-shedding as was happening earlier."
"We forward the messages received in advance to all our members informing them of the time and duration of load shedding effected by the CESC on the industrial feeders," Jain said.
"We are thankful to the CESC managing director and his team for moving one step ahead in power management and trying to mitigate our hardship," the MIA General Secretary said.
In fact, compared to neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, Jain said Karnataka was better placed. Power supply was managed better than in those states, he added.
Expressing similar views, A S Satish, Vice-President, Mysore Chamber of Commerce & Industries, said before resorting to load-shedding CESC had taken the industrialists into confidence about curtailed power quantum made available to it.
It had appealed to them to minimise power usage between 6 pm and 10 pm, as the demand would be at peak and CESC had to discharge whatever the quantum made availabe to it and manage consumers' demands to the best possible extent. It had said it would also bear in mind the impact of load-shedding on commercial users and assured to maintain supply to the extent possible, he said.
"The situation might turn worse in the next 2-3 months if rains are delayed," he apprehended, saying CESC had promised to convene another meeting when the situation went critical. "Hence, we have to go with the situation, left with no alternative," Satish added.
