Govt's power plan to hit small cities

Malls, multiplexes may be told to cut power consumption by 20 per cent.

Industry and commercial establishments like malls, multiplexes, hotels in big cities except Mumbai, like Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Aurangabad are set to get a high voltage shock as the state government is considering a proposal to introduce mandatory 20 per cent reduction in power consumption for these sectors in these cities.

A proposal to this effect will come up for discussion before the cabinet sub-committee on power headed by the chief minister on Monday, the first day of Maharashtra legislature¿s winter session.

The proposal will also include sops for the industry to encourage them to use their captive power generation capacity. The state government hopes around 2,000 Mw of power can be generated through captive power plants of various industries.

The industry and commercial establishments will be asked to reduce power consumption by 20 per cent compared to their last month¿s bill and if they fail to do so a penal charges also will be levied on them, sources added.

Maharashtra is already facing power shortage between 4,000 - 5,000 Mw and this just November and with summer approaching this gap might widen, said sources in Maharashtra government¿s energy department.

This is despite increase in power supply by around 1,800 Mw compared to last year. Due to booming economy, demand for power has increased by around 2,000 Mw, in a single year, sources pointed out.

This situation is leading to power cuts between four to eight hours in cities and more than 12 hours in rural areas which is creating wide spread resentment among the masses.

So industry and commercial establishments will also have to come forward and help the government to reduce the power cuts in residential areas.

However there is no need for industry and commercial establishments to panic yet as the state government will require to get these proposals approved from the state power regulator Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC), feel power sector analysts.