Bhopal, Aug 13 - Hit by a severe power crisis, the Madhya Pradesh government has decided to stop using air conditioners in its offices across the state from Thursday.

The decision was taken at a meeting of senior government officials and top executives of power distribution companies Wednesday.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who chaired the meeting, said the restrictions would be in place till the power situation in the state improved, a power distribution company official said.

'Now, the government offices would not be allowed to use air conditioners. These machines consumes huge quantities of power which worsens the power situation in the state,' the official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

'However, all government hospitals would be exempted from these restrictions,' he added.

The chief minister has also asked the chief executive directors of the power companies to ban the use of neon lights on advertisement hoardings.