Power cuts are a very common feature in India.  In some cases it is not justified, but more often than not power cuts are justified.  Power cuts are enforced because the State is not able to generate power or there is a shortfall because of excessive demand or over use of power.  While the government should make all efforts to generate more power to cater to the needs of the people, the citizens too should not shy away from saving power wherever possible.  The onus is both on the government and citizens to ensure there is not shortage of power, or atleast make an effort to bridge the gap between demand and requirement.

Electricity Departments waste power by not switching off street lights:-One area where power is wasted is that the electricity departments never bother to switch of street lights in the morning.  Often it is seen that street lights burn till 10 O clock in the morning.  In some areas street lights are never switched off.  The good thing however is that some residents on their own initiative switch off street lights whenever they see it buring in the morning.

Street Lights off during power cuts in late evenings in nights:-In yet another lapse of inconsistency on part of electricity departments to over compensate for wastage of powers  it is observed that even street lights are put off during late evenings or at nights.  It is impossible for an average healthy person with good sight to see a vehicle coming in his direction in nights.  The head lights of vehicles only compound the problem with their brightness.  If an healthy younger cannot sight a vehicle under total darkness imagine what could be the fate of a elderly or handicapped person. One of the reason for increase in accidents is due to people unable to sight vehicles duing power shut downs at nights.  Apart from risk to life there is a inconvenience factor as  people who are travelling tend to lose money in public vehicles or on the road if they are required to take money from their pockets as  they cannot see the notes during darkeness. Apart from this it creates lot of other inconveniences to people like reading bus boards.

It becomes very important for electricity departments to take corrective action to ensure power is saved by putting of street lights in early morning itself.  It is more important for electricity departments to ensure that during power cuts in late evenings and nights street lights are always on.