CICU Raises Alarm Over Prolonged Power Cuts, Says Industry Cannot Afford Further Disruptions

Ludhiana, September 7, 2026: The Chamber of Industrial & Commercial Undertakings (CICU) has strongly taken up the issue of prolonged and repeated power cuts affecting Ludhiana’s industrial sector, stating that the situation has become unbearable for industry and is directly impacting production, exports, delivery commitments and the credibility of MSMEs. A CICU delegation led by General Secretary Honey Sethi, along with Dr. S.B. Singh, Joint Secretary; Gautam Malhotra, Vice President; Didarjit Singh Lotey; and Sanjay Dhiman, met Inderpal Singh, Chief Engineer, PSPCL, and submitted a detailed memorandum highlighting the serious impact of prolonged power disruptions on Ludhiana’s industrial community.
During the meeting, the delegation apprised the Chief Engineer that industries have been facing nearly four-hour power cuts during night hours for the past week, causing severe disruption to manufacturing operations, machinery utilisation, manpower deployment and delivery schedules.
CICU General Secretary Honey Sethi said, “Prolonged and unpredictable power cuts are simply not bearable for industry. MSMEs operate on strict production schedules and are committed to delivery timelines given to their buyers. When electricity is disrupted for several hours, production comes to a standstill and the entire supply chain gets affected. Most importantly, our exporters risk losing valuable export orders because they are unable to meet committed delivery schedules.”  He further stated that Punjab’s industrial competitiveness cannot be strengthened without reliable power infrastructure, and the issue should be treated as a priority by the Government and PSPCL.
CICU Joint Secretary Dr. S.B. Singh said, “For an MSME, the impact of a power cut goes far beyond the immediate loss of production. A delayed shipment can affect the confidence of a buyer, particularly an international buyer. In global markets, credibility and timely delivery are extremely important. If an MSME repeatedly fails to meet commitments due to circumstances beyond its control, it may permanently lose business.”
CICU highlighted that prolonged power interruptions are resulting in:
·         Loss of valuable production hours
·         Idle manpower and increased operating costs
·         Disruption of manufacturing processes and machinery
·         Delayed dispatches and customer deliveries
·         Risk of losing domestic and export orders
·         Damage to MSMEs’ credibility with buyers
·         Increased pressure on already cost-sensitive manufacturing units
The Chamber emphasised that many industrial processes require substantial time to restart after an interruption, making the actual production loss considerably higher than the duration of the power cut itself.
The CICU delegation formally submitted a memorandum to Inderpal Singh, Chief Engineer, PSPCL, requesting immediate intervention and a sustainable mechanism to ensure reliable electricity supply to industrial areas. CICU urged PSPCL to ensure that industrial feeders are not subjected to prolonged and unpredictable power cuts, particularly during critical production hours, and requested greater transparency and predictability in power-supply management.
Following the assurance given by the Chief Engineer that industrial power cuts would not be imposed from today, CICU has decided to defer its proposed protest action for the time being. However, the Chamber made it clear that it will closely monitor the situation and expects the assurance to be implemented consistently on the ground.
CICU has cautioned that if the problem of prolonged power cuts resurfaces or the assurance is not implemented effectively, the Chamber will be compelled to review its course of action in the larger interest of the industrial community.
Reliable Power. Reliable Production. Reliable Commitments — CICU stands firmly with Ludhiana Industry.
CICU delegation thanks to Chief Engineer Inderpal Singh after his assurance that there will be no power cut in the industries.