Patna, June 9: The Bihar State Electricity Board’s bid to ensure smooth supply during the monsoon has added to the summer woes of the residents in the state capital.

The board, which has been under fire for failing to provide smooth supply to the capital during pre-monsoon days, has decided to carry out main-tenance of its 33KV feeders to prevent glitches during the rainy season.

The board is carrying out maintenance work of the feeders quite regularly, giving power consumers sleepless nights during the peak summer season. At a time when mercury has been hovering between 40 and 44 degrees Celsius with hot winds blowing, the board and Patna Electric Supply Undertaking (Pesu) have been resorting to power cuts for two to five hours officially for the maintenance work of 33 KV feeders.

The board had in the past week resorted to shutdown thrice for carrying out maintenance work, leaving the power consumers in the lurch. The seven 33KV feeders that were shut down for maintenance were Pesu I and II (June 9 for four hours), Pesu IV and V (June 8 for two hours) and PESU VI, Danapur I and II (June 5 for four hours).

Board spokesman H.R. Pandey told The Telegraph, “We have to carry out maintenance from time to time for better and effective management of the system. We are actually carrying out strengthening work keeping in mind the increased demand of power. The system has to be strengthened keeping in mind squalls and thunderstorms during the rainy season.”