"Should Rethink": Maharashtra Minister On PM's Call To Turn Off Lights

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's latest call - to switch off lights for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday and light candles, diyas (earthen lamps) to fight the darkness brought upon the country by coronavirus pandemic - "can affect emergency services", the Maharashtra Energy Minister has said. In a message, he has made an appeal saying:  "Do not turn off all the lights at the same time".

"We should rethink before switching off all the lights at the same time at our homes. This can lead to a grid failure and affect emergency services," Dr Nitin Raut said.

Explaining what he meant, he added: "Putting off the lights together at the same time can lead to a huge difference in demand and supply. Due to the lockdown, the demand has already decreased from 23,000 megawatt to 13,000 megawatt as factory units are not operating."

"If all lights are put off at the same time, it can lead to a potential blackout, which will also affect the emergency services. It may take up to 12-16 hours to restore the services. In fight against coronavirus pandemic, electricity is an important tool," he said.

Some state electricity boards also fear that sudden mass power fluctuations could lead to a multi-state grid collapse and result in a blackout. In Uttar Pradesh, the State Load Dispatch Centre, the top body that oversees the power system in the state, mentioned at a possibility of load shedding in the state from 8 pm to 9 pm on Sunday in a staggered manner to avoid a power crash. The Tamil Nadu power corporation too will have a staggered load-shedding in the state from 8 pm to 9 pm on Sunday. 

On Friday, PM Modi, in his third address to the nation in the last few weeks on COVID-19 pandemic, urged people across India to switch off their lights and hold candles, lamps and mobile flashlights at 9 pm on Sunday, April 5, for 9 minutes in a nationwide show of solidarity, to fight the darkness of coronavirus.

"We must all together, challenge the darkness spread by the coronavirus crisis, introducing it to the power of light. No one is alone during the lockdown, the collective superpower of 130 crore Indians is with every citizen," he said in a video address.

In a statement today, Union Power Ministry said: "PM has appealed to voluntarily switch off lights between 9:00 p.m to 9:09 pm on April 5. Some apprehensions have been expressed that this may cause instability in grid and voltage fluctuation which may harm electrical appliances.These apprehensions are misplaced."

Across India, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to 68 deaths, infected over 2,900 people. Worldwide, the coronavirus count has crossed 1-million mark, killing over 50,000.

India has entered tenth day of a total lockdown, announced by PM Modi last week to ensure social distancing, one of the ways to prevent spread of highly infectious coronavirus.