Ludhiana, Aug. 9 -- The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has deferred its Rs.120.71-crore project to clear Ludhiana's dangling and low-hanging overhead wires till October 15, as the work at several locations requires power shutdowns of 10 to 12 hours. The utility said such prolonged outages could not be undertaken during the peak summer and paddy season, when electricity demand is high and uninterrupted supply is crucial for consumers, farmers and industries.

Despite the deferment, the project has moved ahead on paper, with PSPCL having floated 32 tenders and issued work orders for 20 packages. However, substantial physical work is yet to begin, leaving large parts of the city grappling with the same tangled network of elec...