Power tripping unacceptable, says energy minister amid heatwave

Lucknow: State energy minister Arvind Kumar Sharma on Saturday said power tripping in any area was unacceptable and must be prevented through effective planning and timely action.

During a review meeting in Varanasi, he issued directions to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply amid an intense heat wave.

Sharma emphasised improving both the speed and quality of power-related works. He reviewed the progress of underground cabling projects and directed officials to accelerate execution in line with the state’s growing electricity demand.

Stressing Varanasi’s importance as a major religious and tourist destination, the minister said infrastructure upgrades must be completed in a time-bound, transparent, and quality-driven manner.

Sharma also inaugurated two advanced 24X7 electricity service vans in Varanasi. Equipped with modern tools and safety equipment, these vans will operate in three shifts to ensure quick fault repair, emergency response and reliable power supply to consumers.

Consumer body flags delay in smart meter probe

The Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad (UPRVUP) has raised concerns over delays and transparency in the probe into the quality of smart prepaid electricity meters. f UPRVUP chairman, Avadhesh Kumar Verma, said the four-member committee formed on April 12 on the chief minister’s directions has failed to submit its report within the timeframe. Although the deadline has expired, testing has now begun at a departmental laboratory in Gomti Nagar.