<p>An acute shortage of power across the state has forced the Punjab government to announce that office timings in all government offices will be changed from August 1, Wednesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The government also ordered a complete ban on the use of air conditioners in all government offices, boards and corporations in the state with immediate effect till further orders.<br /><br />“To cope with the acute power shortage due to deficient rainfall during the monsoon, the Punjab government on Sunday decided to change the office timings from 8 am to 2 pm without lunch break in all the government offices, boards and corporations across the state till further orders with effect from August 1, 2012,” a spokesman of the chief minister’s office said.<br /><br />Punjab has reported 65 per cent deficit rainfall this year. With power generation hitting a low, power cuts ranging from eight to 15 hours are common at various places.<br /><br />“All the districts heads of offices would be solely responsible for ensuring strict compliance of these instructions. These would also be applicable to the camp offices of divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police besides the commissioners of municipal corporations,” the spokesman said.<br /><br />Supply of drinking water will be ensured at the residents door step in cities and the towns through water tankers, he added.</p>
<p>An acute shortage of power across the state has forced the Punjab government to announce that office timings in all government offices will be changed from August 1, Wednesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The government also ordered a complete ban on the use of air conditioners in all government offices, boards and corporations in the state with immediate effect till further orders.<br /><br />“To cope with the acute power shortage due to deficient rainfall during the monsoon, the Punjab government on Sunday decided to change the office timings from 8 am to 2 pm without lunch break in all the government offices, boards and corporations across the state till further orders with effect from August 1, 2012,” a spokesman of the chief minister’s office said.<br /><br />Punjab has reported 65 per cent deficit rainfall this year. With power generation hitting a low, power cuts ranging from eight to 15 hours are common at various places.<br /><br />“All the districts heads of offices would be solely responsible for ensuring strict compliance of these instructions. These would also be applicable to the camp offices of divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police besides the commissioners of municipal corporations,” the spokesman said.<br /><br />Supply of drinking water will be ensured at the residents door step in cities and the towns through water tankers, he added.</p>