Power Shortage!

Being an Indian, I have accepted that it is our destiny to face power shortages. But this year is going to be the worst till date. With the ever increasing need for power, our reliance on Hydro-electric power, the evasive monsoons and dwindling rivers, only means that the demand is going up and supply is coming down. This as everyone can understand is a very very bad sign. We can become a developed country only when we can generate uninterrupted power supply at low costs.
I am part of the majority of Indians who have not understood the Indo-US Nuclear deal (one of the reasons why I have restrained from giving my opinion on this). The country is, I would say split on this issue. There are lot of people, who are thinkers, and well wishers for Indians, who have vehemently opposed this bill. But seeing the current situation, where farmers are going without water for their crops, because of 18 hours a day load shedding, industries having to face a 40 hours load shedding in a week, there is no excuse what so ever to not get the Nuclear power into this country. We may pay for it by losing a bit of our sovereignty, but at least the poorest of the poor can breathe easy.

Coming back to Bangalore power shortage, there is no excuse that the IT companies can give. They have the money power, so they think it is just another commodity that they can buy, and use to their will. They are wrong. I have seen empty cubicles being lit up, all the walkways completely lit up (as though there is going to be a photo session there), and thousands of machines left running, when there is no need for them to be up! I saw a statement made today by a prominent CEO of a IT company asking the government to give them a separate quota of Diesel, so that they can continue to waste power where there is a power cut. This has inturn led to shortage of Diesel in our city. People in power must really know how to use it.