By Raju Vernekar
Mumbai, April 5
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed people to switch off electric lights and light candles for nine minutes, at 9 PM on Sunday, 5 April, as a panacea to break the chain of coronavirus, different opinions have been expressed on the issue.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has said that instead of wasting time in switching off the lights, all the lights should be switched on. “No good work is done in darkness and as such we should have more light as far as possible. Begin good work by contributing towards CM’s relief fund”. He has said.
Whereas Maharashtra Energy Minister Nitin Raut has warned people saying “ Think before you shut the lights off on Sunday”. He has expressed fear of probable grid failure due to exceptional pressure falling over it if all lights are put off simultaneously. This can have a cascading effect of grids nationwide, Raut has said adding that this could plunge entire the country into darkness for hours or even days together. “ One shudders to imagine the plight of patients in hospitals if their ventilators and other life saving equipments suddenly stop to function”.
However Union Power Ministry has dispelled rumour saying “People should not worry about voltage fluctuation when they switch off some lights. Some apprehensions have been expressed that this may cause instability in the grid and fluctuation in voltage which may harm the electrical appliances. The Indian electricity grid is robust and stable and adequate arrangements and protocols are in place to handle the variation in demand.
“The appeal of PM is to simply switch off the lights in residences, from 9 pm to 9.09 pm on April 5. There is no call to switch off either street lights or appliances like computers, TVs, fans, refrigerators and ACs in the homes. Lights in hospitals and all other essential services like public utilities, municipal services, offices, police stations, manufacturing facilities will remain on and all local bodies have been advised to keep streetlights on for public safety.
According to astrologer Dr Jai Madaan, the reason for choosing 9 pm and 9 minutes is to initiate Mar’s double effect which lends to higher will power and immunity and can help one over come hurdles. Similarly as per numerologist Nitin Gupta, the spread of the virus happened due to the transit of Rahu. According to numerology the number for Rahu is four and is right now travelling in the Budh Rashi. The number for Budh (Mercury) is five. April 5 is the only date in this month that gives us the combination of both these numbers. If one adds the number of the year, 2020, it also comes to be four.
Whereas some experts have said that the Coronavirus is destroyed in 10,000 calories. One candle can create 2000 calories. Even if half the country’s population light the lamps, 35 crore candles, 15 crore earthen lamps and 29 crore mobile flash can create 125 crore kcal and the coronavirus can easily be destroyed.
In another development, the reputed Taj group which has already contributed Rs 1,500 crore to PM’s relief fund, has offered rooms to doctors and staff engaged in providing medicare to Covid 19 patients. The rooms at Hotel Taj, Colaba, Hotel President, Cuffe Parade, Taj Lands End, Bandra and Hotel Taj, Santacruz in Mumbai have been made available.
In the meanwhile in Maharashtra the number of active Covid 19 cases has climbed to 635 with 32 deaths, while 52 patient have been cured and discharged.
