Lucknow, May 23: Uttar Pradesh‘s Energy Minister A.K. Sharma has clarified that no orders have been issued regarding the deployment of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) at sensitive power substations. He emphasized that public welfare remains the department’s top priority.
In an interview with a news agency, Sharma stated that there appears to be no necessity for PAC deployment at these substations. “Our electricity services are for the public. We are continuously working to enhance these services for the betterment of the people,” he said.
Responding to the Samajwadi Party’s criticism of the state government over the electricity crisis, Sharma remarked, “If we look back over the past ten years, it has been nine years since Akhilesh Yadav’s government left power. During this time, neither has the number of villages in Uttar Pradesh increased, nor has the state’s geographical area expanded. Yet, we are supplying electricity to double the number of consumers compared to his tenure. There were 1.8 crore consumers during his time, while today there are 3.7 crore.”
He noted that during the Samajwadi Party’s term, the peak electricity demand was around 14,000 megawatts, but it has now risen to over 30,000 megawatts, indicating that they are providing two and a half times more electricity.
Sharma advised Yadav to reflect on his tenure before making any statements. “During his administration, there were weeks of power cuts. Although demand increases in the summer, managing electricity supply remains a challenge not just in Uttar Pradesh but in many other states as well. Nevertheless, we are professionally managing the demand for electricity,” he added.
He urged electricity personnel to avoid any negligence, warning that attempts to tarnish the government’s image will not be tolerated. “I want to assure the public that I am continuously striving to serve you,” he concluded.
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