Power cuts & water woes greet Himachal on new year

Shimla : Power surplus Himachal Pradesh has continued to reel under electricity cuts during much of December into the New Year even as freezing conditions prevail across most parts of the hill state .

Even the state capital Shimla has not been spared . The electricity shortage has affected pumping of water supply for the past few days here at a time when the winter tourist season is at its peak .

Amid all this the over-staffed and inefficient state electricity board has not even bothered to offer an excuse for the in-convenience being caused to the people .

The cuts take place mostly in the morning when the demand is heaviest. A time when office goers and tourists get ready to leave outdoors .

Added to this is the poor voltage at peak hours due to which it takes very long to heat water geysers and electric heaters .

The water demand has also gone up since Christmas but there have been days when there has been no supply or very little release of water in man? parts of the state .

Blessed with plenty of hydro-electricity , Himachal  achieved 100 per cent electrification way back in 1989 .Long power cuts are rare even in rural areas .