FONRWA president meets UP energy minister AK Sharma over power outages in Noida, seeks more funds

NOIDA: The president of the Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Associations (FONRWA) met UP energy minister AK Sharma in Lucknow on Wednesday over power outages in Noida. While the power department had submitted an estimate of Rs 75 crore for works related to preparations for summer, an amount of Rs 21.5 crore has been sanctioned by UPPCL so far.
FONRWA demanded more funds from the minister, who assured to soon sanction the same, and asked the MD of Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (PVVNL) to submit a proposal to that effect.
He also directed the officials to complete the repair and maintenance work related to power infrastructure between November and January so that the city can be prepared to handle the load in the next summers.
"On Sunday, we had met Chaitra V, the MD of PVVNL regarding the power supply issues in the city. Larer on Wednesday evening, I met minister AK Sharma and apprised him about the daily outages faced by several residential sectors and highrises for years. I informed him that every year false promises are made to address the issue," said Yogendra Sharma, the president of FONRWA.
Despite Noida being a 'no power cut zone' and the highest revenue generator with minimum line losses in the state, its consumers are still waiting for a streamlined power supply, which should not be disrupted with minor to heavy showers or gusty winds, said the FONRWA president.
"In some sectors, there have been instances of outages for over two days due to storms or rain. I have urged the minister that when the city is giving maximum revenue, the power department should spend funds on the city’s infrastructure," added the FONRWA president.
The FONRWA president told the minister that the city currently needs to work on a lot of old infrastructure equipment.
"Currently, there is a need to replace many dilapidated poles, rusting and loose cables, panel and junction boxes, etc. to improve the city's infrastructure. We need a larger budget for these. On this, the minister asked the MD of PVVNL to send an estimate of the works required, and he will assure more funds are sanctioned," said Yogendra Sharma.
Besides, residents of sectors 28, 29, and 37 in Arun Vihar met their area in-charge SDOs regarding power supply works in their areas. "It was decided that from Monday, a joint survey of old metre and junction boxes, fuse panels, and poles will be conducted and fixed on priority," said Brigadier (retd) Ashok Hak, the chairperson of Arun Vihar RWA.
Simultaneously, a drive to address the issue of loose, hanging, and entangled wires on trees would be carried out in collaboration with the horticulture department of the Noida Authority.
About Rs 11 crore have been sanctioned to the area division, where executive engineer Rakesh Kumar maintained that "major works will start by June end and the results can be seen within the next four months."
A similar meeting was conducted between the RWA of Sector 51 in Kendriya Vihar and the area SDO, wherein the residents demanded the execution of pending electrical works. "The official took note of the problem and ordered the area around the transformer to be maintained properly," said the RWA president of the society L O P Karan.