NOIDA: An increase in applications to either disconnect power supply or reduce the electricity load has thrown light on the challenges that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are facing to stay afloat in the aftermath of the lockdown.
Officials in the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) confirmed that the number of such requests had gone up several times in the period between July and September.
They said UPPCL had received over 100 requests to snip power connections and more than 150 applications to reduce the supply load in the past months. “Usually, we get around 50-60 requests to disconnect power every three months or so. But between July and September this year, there have been more than 100 applications,” said VN Singh, chief zonal engineer and head of UPPCL in the Noida circle.
Members of the Indian Industries Association (IIA) echoed the concern, saying the textile units were among the hardest hit by the lack of orders from the international market. “Power bills are among the heaviest overheads. Many industries have lost business because of the lack of international orders since March,” said Kulmani Gupta, president of the IIA in Noida.
