A minister booed at a public meeting, a legislator being held hostage, power stations being attacked, electricity department men being beaten up - the power crisis in Uttar Pradesh, a state of 200 milllion people, has turned into a law and order scare for the Akhilesh Yadav government. Though there was a brief breather in some parts of the state following monsoon showers last week, the state has been facing an unprecedented power crisis with unscheduled power cuts ranging between 10 and 12 hours in villages and around two-four hours in major cities. Paddy growers are waiting for irrigation to resume as the rains have failed them. But with no or erratic power supply, they are a miserable lot. While the chief minister and his officials contend they are doing all they can to overcome a large 2,000 MW shortfall, the people say they will accept nothing short of improved supplies.

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