Date:07/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/07/stories/2008050760411300.htm

National

West Bengal Governor opts for power cut

Kolkata: In the context of the acute electricity shortage in this metropolis, West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi will observe a two-hour voluntary power cut daily at the Raj Bhavan from Wednesday.

“This decision follows Mr. Gandhi’s view that the Raj Bhavan need not be an exception to the city’s electricity supply situation,” a Raj Bhavan release said.

The decision would be reviewed as and when necessary.

Power Minister Mrinal Banerjee said: “It is beyond my comprehension why he took such a decision when the power situation in the metropolis has been improving in the last 10 days.”

“If a person chooses to have a single meal because of food crisis, what can we do?”

Mr. Banerjee said power supply suffered recently following the collapse of 220-kVA towers in storms and they were being recommissioned, while generation from some new units had resumed.

The Minister said it was wrong to assume that load-shedding was being caused by inadequate supply from the Electricity Board. — PTI