India in grip of darkness in the wake of worst-ever power crisis

Life Thrown Out Of Gear

The grids failed again in India, leading to total chaos in most of the Indian states.The way they have collapsed twice in past two days, it appears they have turned into a worn out transformer, used to sudden breakdown. Is that’s the way to ensure emergency services in this nation, eager to emerge as economic superpower? Imagine the colossal loss which the country suffers in wake of such grid failures. In fact,  they give rise to serious tragedies like miners getting trapped.

The common people used to sufferings come to suffer more. The rail passengers get stranded facing most inhuman conditions besides railways suffering huge financial loss. Industrial production suffers a major setback.  However, it’s the patients  in emergency wards who suffer the most. As per one news report, the sudden grid failure caused many deaths in various emergency wards of government hospitals. Will the government be able bring them back in this world? Well, leaders, whether they ride bicycle or elephant, stop thinking for the welfare  of people once they come into power. Inside their air conditioned chambers, the sorrows of common man just don’t exist.

The problem is that leaders and bureaucrats are more interested in setting new records of corruption instead of thinking about the welfare of people in organized way. They are totally unconcerned about the cause of electorates/citizens who secure them a place in  corridors of power. The way they react in any critical situation is pathetic. There is usual blame game followed by suspension or transfer of involved officials. Afterwards-thanks to poor public memory-the case becomes a forgotten episode. Some scapegoats are created to avoid serious backlash on part  of citizens. So a  railway gangman or signalman gets suspended, after any serious train accident, followed by order for inquiry. Thus, the matter attains perfect justice in the eyes of officials.

The schemes get introduced but the years simply passed by and the schemes get delayed. Have one really noticed the condition of power generation plants operating in Uttar Pradesh? Most of them are in dilapidated state and still we talk about ensuring a smooth balance between supply and demand! No wonder  ”gross grid indiscipline” has hit most states instead of introduction of better policies for power generation, better policies to remove  ”structural problems” bothering supply and pricing. Worse, the populist measures to have votes lead to additional problems.

Anyway,  proper management in the power sector can remove most of the problems like power theft. It  can ensure better distribution of power besides taking all steps to have state-of-the-art power generation centers. Lastly, the people who are used to waste electricity need to be taught a lesson. So why not bureaucrats and leaders stop having air conditioners in all the rooms of their houses/offices so that ordinary citizens can think of saving energy in their own way?

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