Durgapur, March 31: Bengal is likely to reel under power cuts in scorching April and May despite power minister Mrinal Banerjee’s promise that the summer of 2008 will be load shedding-free.

Power department officials said the main reason for the impending crisis was the delay in full-scale generation by the new units that were scheduled to start running last year itself.

“We hope the situation will improve after the new units at Sagardighi, Santaldih, Bakreswar and Durgapur begin generation and production in full swing,” the minister said after opening a 300MW Durgapur Projects Ltd (DPL) unit today.

However, “full-swing” operation at none of the plants is likely to begin before June. The power demand this summer has been estimated at 4,700MW, over 500 more than in 2007.

According to a West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company official, Calcutta is likely experience a 100MW shortfall everyday. That roughly translates into an hour’s power cut on any given day.

The situation is likely to turn worse if the central power suppliers such as the National Thermal Power Corporation and the Damodar Valley Corporation scale down supply.