Maharashtra to impose severe power saving measures
Thursday, 24 July 2008, 19:30 IST
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Mumbai: With the power scenario in the state grim due to poor monsoon, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (Mahadiscom) has imposed a 10 percent cut on electricity consumption at all government offices, municipal corporations, the information technology industry and high tension consumers. Similarly, a 20 percent cut has been imposed on all street lights and malls around the state to overcome the demand-supply gap, which has risen to a staggering 5,200 mega watts (MW), Mahadiscom managing director A.B. Pandey announced here Thursday. No hoardings in the state will be provided with power for the next 15 days, he said. Industrial staggering or loadshedding has been hiked from the existing 16 hours a week in different parts of the state to an unprecedented 40 hours - or almost two days - per week from Saturday morning 6 a.m., he said. Pandey also said zero power cut cities like Thane, Pune, Baramati, Vashi, Panvel and Mumbai suburbs of Mulund and Bhandup, will also have loadshedding until further orders. Pandey's announcements came six days after the Mahadiscom announced an additional one-hour loadshedding all over the state implemented last Saturday. To check power wastages and regulate consumption, Mahadiscom has said that committees shall be set up in all districts and sub-districts to review the power situation on a weekly basis. When asked what action Mahadiscom would initiate if the government bodies do not co-operate, Pandey said he was "merely conveying the decision of the state government. A request has been made to all and I hope everyone follows it in view of the prevalent situation". The power saving measures shall not be applicable to Mumbai since power here is produced and supplied by Tata Power Company and Reliance Energy, and distributed by Bombay Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking. Last Thursday, at the start of the monsoon session of the state assembly, state Water Resources Minister Ajit Pawar warned that water supply, irrigation and power generation were facing a crisis in Maharashtra. "Since water levels in large dams have gone down to about 20 percent, we have issued instructions to utilize water strictly for drinking purpose in surrounding villages and the rest to be diverted for use in cities," he informed the assembly. At present, availability of power ranges from 9,000 MW to 9,300 MW, while demand is steadily increasing by the day, he said. The widening demand-supply gap has been attributed to the continuing dry spell, low water level of Koyna dam, and annual overhaul of some generating sets.
Source: IANS
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