‘Free power, but no power': SAD's Sharma slams Punjab govt over outages in Zirakpur
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Mohali: Former MLA and
Shiromani Akali Dal
general secretary NK Sharma launched a scathing attack on the Punjab government over prolonged and unannounced power cuts in Zirakpur, claiming that the promise of free electricity has left Punjab powerless.
He alleged that the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has gone "power bankrupt," leaving residents to suffer through severe power cuts in the midst of a relentless heatwave.
An unrelenting heatwave has thrown daily life off balance across Zirakpur, Baltana, and Dhakoli, with temperatures soaring past 45 degrees Celsius. Frequent power outages have compounded the distress of residents, who describe the conditions as unbearable.
"It feels like fire is raining from the sky," said one resident, as hot winds sweep the region and the sun scorches the ground.
Sharma warned that if the power supply is not restored to normal soon, he will lead a public protest at the electricity board office. Zirakpur, known as the Gateway of Punjab, is experiencing outages lasting several hours each day, disrupting daily life and leaving residents frustrated. "The Aam Aadmi Party came to power on the promise of free electricity, but now there is no electricity to be given.
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When there's no power, of course it's free," Sharma remarked.
Representatives from across 31 wards of Zirakpur approached Sharma to express their anger and helplessness. Bawa Ram Janjua, president of the Green Home Society, said residents are facing 12-hour power cuts with no redressal in sight. Dinesh Bhardwaj from Dhakoli highlighted inefficiencies in the complaint system, noting that online complaints take up to three hours to process and there is no facility for filing offline grievances.
Other residents, including Amandeep Saini from Amolak Enclave, reported that areas like Aero Homes and Nabha Sahib went without power for up to three days recently. The power crisis is also affecting water supply systems, worsening the situation.
Sharma pointed out that while Zirakpur's population has surged from 2.5 lakh in 2017 to over 6.5 lakh today, no new power grids or transformers have been installed to meet the growing demand.
He accused the government of ignoring ground realities and failing to upgrade infrastructure. "The people of Punjab are being fooled by slogans of free power. If things don't improve soon, we'll hit the streets and protest with the people," he said.
Over the past four to five days, the extreme weather has confined people indoors, but their homes have turned into furnaces due to prolonged electricity cuts. Residents report outages lasting four to six hours, or longer, each day.
In many areas, electricity returns briefly only to disappear again, leaving people to suffer without fans, coolers, or air conditioners.
Children, the elderly, and patients are especially vulnerable. "Even inside the house, the heat is unbearable without power. We can't step outside, and inside it feels no different," said a resident from Dhakoli. Those who can afford it have turned to inverters or generators, but many say such options are not accessible to all.
According to the electricity department, power demand has surged due to extensive use of cooling appliances, leading to scheduled cuts to prevent grid overload. However, residents argue that this has created an unbearable situation, especially during the peak summer holidays when children and the elderly are at home.
Women say household chores have become increasingly difficult. "From cooking to cleaning, everything is disrupted.
We wait for hours just to operate basic appliances," said a homemaker in Baltana.
Farmers are also struggling. The heat has increased the demand for water, but dry tube wells and electricity cuts have raised concerns over crop survival. "There is no water for fields or cattle. Power supply is crucial at this time," said a farmer in the area.
As the heatwave shows no signs of abating, residents are demanding that the power department take immediate action to restore uninterrupted supply and provide relief from the dual burden of extreme heat and power scarcity.
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