Gotta shed that load ...
I've taken to checking out the Bangalore Metroblogging page, which gives me a healthy dose of real life Bangalore at the click of a mouse.
One of the most recent posts was about a phenomenon called "load shedding" (try that in your best FOB accent, its awesome). Now I don't know if its commonly used across the world, but at least in India - its used constantly. Essentially, in the summer (which kinda begins in March-ish for India, and extends into August!) the power companies (i.e. the government sanctioned, subsidized power company (sl.)) pre-schedule power outages so that people can plan their day around them, or at least they try. Now, these power outages can last anywhere from an hour to three or four hours, and you can see how things get to be incredibly difficult, especially with the heat factored in.
The big problem right now (front page news in fact) is WHEN to schedule these power outages because there are several conflicting factors.
One is the fact that industries don't like their productive time (essentially day light hours) to be effected; alternatively, if they schedule these outages in the late evening, parents complain because their kids can't study (a combination of heat, mosquitos and um ... lack of light doesn't really allow for a condusive study environment, and also gives us a fabulous excuse - "but MOM, I can't study when its load shedding!!!"). However - the most important factor of all - the fact that the Cricket World Cup starts on March 13th - hence load shedding can't be scheduled after midnight. So, basically they're in a - woe is me kinda situation.
So essentially, the government has no control over the power company because here's what happens. As soon as the power goes out, or if the power has been out for a while, masses of people (industry, parents, or raging fans) call the switch center, and create the biggest ruckus anyone has ever seen; especially with the World Cup, you can expect that the Indian equivalent of the SWAT team will have to be sent out to deal with the situation.
They're at the mercy of the people ... isn't that what government is all about! :)
LOVE IT :)
One of the most recent posts was about a phenomenon called "load shedding" (try that in your best FOB accent, its awesome). Now I don't know if its commonly used across the world, but at least in India - its used constantly. Essentially, in the summer (which kinda begins in March-ish for India, and extends into August!) the power companies (i.e. the government sanctioned, subsidized power company (sl.)) pre-schedule power outages so that people can plan their day around them, or at least they try. Now, these power outages can last anywhere from an hour to three or four hours, and you can see how things get to be incredibly difficult, especially with the heat factored in.
The big problem right now (front page news in fact) is WHEN to schedule these power outages because there are several conflicting factors.
One is the fact that industries don't like their productive time (essentially day light hours) to be effected; alternatively, if they schedule these outages in the late evening, parents complain because their kids can't study (a combination of heat, mosquitos and um ... lack of light doesn't really allow for a condusive study environment, and also gives us a fabulous excuse - "but MOM, I can't study when its load shedding!!!"). However - the most important factor of all - the fact that the Cricket World Cup starts on March 13th - hence load shedding can't be scheduled after midnight. So, basically they're in a - woe is me kinda situation.
So essentially, the government has no control over the power company because here's what happens. As soon as the power goes out, or if the power has been out for a while, masses of people (industry, parents, or raging fans) call the switch center, and create the biggest ruckus anyone has ever seen; especially with the World Cup, you can expect that the Indian equivalent of the SWAT team will have to be sent out to deal with the situation.
They're at the mercy of the people ... isn't that what government is all about! :)
LOVE IT :)
posted by zai5h at Tuesday, February 27, 2007
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