Government calls for power cuts as IMD warns of severe heatwaves across India | Today’s news
New Delhi: The government has urged citizens to use electricity sparingly after the meteorological department predicted severe heat waves in large parts of the country for the next week, which is expected to increase power demand and strain the grid.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday said northwest, central, eastern and parts of peninsular India are expected to remain under intense to severe heat waves for the next six to seven days.
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As rising temperatures have led to record power demand across the country, the Union Power Ministry has advised citizens to use electricity “judiciously”. India’s peak power consumption on Friday was 267.5 GW. It has hit new highs in the last four days with a new record of 270.8 GW reached on Thursday.
In a tweet on Friday, the Department of Energy said: “While we are prepared to supply electricity as needed, due to the intense summer, let us all try to use electricity wisely and judiciously.”
Demand for energy has surged as people increasingly rely on cooling devices such as air conditioners and air coolers amid scorching heat in several parts of the country.
The highest temperature so far this summer was 48.2 degrees Celsius recorded in Banda, Uttar Pradesh on May 19. According to the latest IMD weather assessment, maximum temperatures in several regions have already soared to the 40-47°C range on Thursday, with Banda in Uttar Pradesh recording 47.6°C.
The IMD has warned that severe heat waves are likely to persist in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Vidarbha for most of the next week. East Uttar Pradesh and East Madhya Pradesh are expected to face severe heat waves between May 23 and 28, while Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi may witness the most intense period between May 24 and 27.
The Met Office said warm overnight conditions are likely to exacerbate discomfort levels in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana and Vidarbha, reducing night cooling and increasing health risks for the vulnerable population.
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West Rajasthan is also likely to experience severe heat conditions from May 24 to 28. Vidarbha and coastal Andhra Pradesh are expected to remain under severe heat stress till at least May 26.
Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon began to gradually advance. Conditions are favorable for further advance into parts of Southeast Arabian Sea, Comorin region, Bay of Bengal and remaining areas of Andaman Sea during the next two to three days.
Even as north and central India reel under scorching temperatures, parts of Kerala, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim and northeastern states are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall during a few days of the coming week.
The IMD has also predicted hot and humid conditions over Gangetic West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, adding to weather-related discomfort in eastern and southern regions.
The country’s power demand is estimated to reach 271 GW this year, according to the Central Electricity Authority.
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Amid projections of high energy demand and the likely shift of some industries from gas furnaces to electric furnaces as a result of the war in West Asia, the Department of Energy has already delayed maintenance programs for about 10 GW of thermal plants this summer to ensure uninterrupted power supplies.
Another likely addition to the energy demand basket this year is induction cookers. As more people switch to induction cooktops due to shortage of LPG, India’s peak power consumption is expected to increase by up to 27 GW.
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) director general Kruhna Chandra Panigrahy told reporters in April that the shift towards induction cooking had already begun and would create “another layer of demand” during the morning and evening peaks.
