Rostering dampens festive spirit

Rostering has returned to haunt Durga Puja and Ramlila committees in the city. The power supply in the city is being snapped post midnight in the city forcing committees to delve deep into their pockets to arrange for generators.
On Tuesday, the city faced powercut for seven hours. This was done in three shifts, commencing from 1am in the night. The supply was restored at four in the morning.Ramlila organizers bore the maximum brunt of the rostering as most of the Ramlilas continue till 2am.
The city had witnessed similar power cut on Monday night too. The total rostering in fact stretched to six and a half hours forcing people to spend sleepless nights.
A member of Shastri Nagar Ramlila Committee Vimal Singh said, “Power woes are back even in festive season.”
“The authorities concerned are not sparing the city even during the festive time. With Ramlila and Durga Puja in progress now, the rostering should stop. Ramlila often continues till 2 in the night and the power supply is snapped at 1am. This has been happening for two nights and therefore, we have to make arrangements for the backup,” he said.
Almost similar views were expressed by Sanjay Mitra of Arya Nagar Durga Puja Committee. He said that though the Puja started only on Tuesday evening, rostering during night hours returned two days back affecting the work of pandal construction. “ Six to seven hours of rostering during festive season is unbearable,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kesco officials maintained that rostering was being done by the system control in Lucknow and Kesco had no role in it.