The power crisis in Punjab is steadily worsening due to surging electricity demand caused by humid, sweltering heat and the shutdown of several power units. Reports indicate that on Friday, the state’s power demand hit a new peak, touching 16,619 megawatts (MW). In contrast, the state’s own generation stood at approximately 4,472 MW by 5 PM. To bridge this significant gap between demand and availability, Punjab is forced to rely on purchasing power from the Northern Grid.
Sources report that the Rajpura Thermal Plant holds a coal stock sufficient for about three days, while the Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant has a reserve for approximately seven days. Operations at the Rajpura plant have also been hampered; one of its two 700 MW units is shut down due to a technical fault, while the other was already offline. The unavailability of multiple thermal and hydroelectric units has further strained the power system. The electricity shortage is directly impacting industries, rural areas, and the agricultural sector, resulting in frequent power cuts.
**Protest by Industrialists in Jalandhar**
Frustrated by the power outages, stakeholders from Jalandhar’s industrial sector staged a protest at Sodal Chowk around 11:30 PM. Protesters alleged that power supplies were being disrupted for 10 to 11 hours between 7 PM and 6 AM in several areas. They stated that these outages were disrupting not only factory production but also household activities and water supplies.
The power crisis is reportedly affecting around 3,000 industrial units in Jalandhar. According to industrialists, prolonged power cuts are forcing many units to halt operations ahead of schedule. This reduction in production and working hours is occurring even as employee wages and other operational expenses remain unchanged.
