UP power cuts signal dipping PC sales for home

As a direct result of the ongoing power cuts within the state
of Uttar Pradesh, PC sales have dipped leaving the channel community in a
quandary. Though most dealers have started using invertors and other means of
power generation, the business is getting affected due to the long power cuts
regularly in Allahabad.

"We are experiencing one of worst power cuts that I have
seen in recent years. There are times when there is no electricity for six to
seven hours. This leaves us in a very tight spot as far handling end-customers
are concerned," informed a worried Vipin Gupta of Allahabad-based Vipin
Enterprises.

Gupta has also been recently elected as the President of
Allahabad Computer Dealers Welfare Association. The body is planning to take
this matter further with the local government authorities very soon. "We
will try our best to present our viewpoint before the government. They should be
made aware of the loss we are incurring on a daily basis because of these
regular power cuts," he added.

The damage by this ongoing power crisis is two fold. While
the dealers sweat it out with purchase of inverters and their upkeep, customers
are keeping away from buying PCs.

"Today, the power situation is very bad in Kanpur. I
wanted to buy a computer for my family but have dropped this idea for now. We
would rather invest in a device that helps in generating power like an inverter,
than a costly item like PC," explained Praveen Shukla, a teacher from
Kanpur.

Dismayed by the ongoing power crisis within Uttar Pradesh,
the channel community is gearing up to express their concern in front of the
administration. "We are going to voice our concerns, with the help of our
channel association in Allahabad. It is the same story in other cities like
Kanpur or Lucknow, I am sure that other cities will also follow us on this
issue," Gupta explained.

Cities like Allahabad, Lucknow, Kanpur and even Varanasi are
facing power cuts on a daily basis. According to some estimates, the current
demand of Uttar Pradesh is around 7,000-8,000 MW, while the supply is around
4,000-5,000 MW. And to add to the woes of the people the temperature in the
northern plains of the country is touching 45 degree.

Besides, Uttar Pradesh, several other northern states-Punjab,
Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, national capital Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan
and Uttaranchal-are also facing power shortage.

ZIA ASKARI