Power shortage in neighbouring States has turned out to be a boon for the Bhiwadi industrial area in Alwar district of Rajasthan, with the entrepreneurs making a beeline to establish their new units at one of the popular destinations for industrialists. The industrial area, falling in the National Capital Region, has been exempted from load-shedding by Jaipur Vidyut Vitaran Nigam in view of its proximity to Delhi. This has especially attracted industrialists looking for prolonged manufacturing hours. The Chairman and Managing Director of Jaipur power discom, R.G. Gupta, reviewed the progress of work for disposal of applications seeking new electricity connections for industrial units here over the weekend and issued instructions for prompt release of connections. Mr. Gupta said as many as 42 applications were received in April and 19 of them have been approved, while release of connections for the rest is in progress. Earlier, 30 applications were received in March and 21 in February. The majority of applicants are from neighbouring Haryana, where a power cut of eight hours a day has been imposed on the industrial units. Mr. Gupta said the entrepreneurs from Haryana are willing to establish steel and plastic fibre units in Bhiwadi. The power consumption in Bhiwadi industrial area is likely to go up by 1.50 crore units after the release of new connections. Mr. Gupta said the rate of new applications being received by the discom also suggests that the number of industries in Bhiwadi would go up from the present 1,500 to 2,500 within the next year.