The Power Ministry on Saturday clarified that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to turn off the lights for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday poses no threat to the stability of the country’s electricity grid.
Power minister R K Singh was of the view that a robust protocol is underway to maintain grid frequency through the blackout period.
He also informed that the national grid operator and the national despatch centre would coordinate with regional and state load despatchers to ensure grid stability.
Meanwhile, the Centre has sought to ward off the apprehensions related to the power grid instability by reiterating that adequate protocols are in place to handle the variation in demand without causing any damage to appliances.
Modi on Friday, through a video message, urged people to switch off lights at their homes and light up lamps, candles or mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday in a resolve to defeat coronavirus.
The Union Ministry of Power also added there is no call to switch off either street lights or appliances like computers, televisions, fans, refrigerators and air-conditioners in homes.
The lights in hospitals and all other essential services like public utilities, municipal services, offices, police stations, manufacturing facilities, etc will remain on.
“The call given by Hon’ble PM is to just switch off lights in residences,” tweeted the Ministry of Power.