New power cuts hit Maharashtra

Maharashtra is reeling under severe bouts of power cuts "" nine hours every day in rural regions and four hours a day in urban areas. This is a new load-shedding plan, being enforced over the last two weeks.

The schedule before April 21, 2005 was three hours in urban regions and six hours in rural areas. The Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) today faces a daily demand of over 14, 500 Mw while it is able to supply around 11,000 Mw.

The 3500-Mw shortfall of power has forced the MSEB to resort to severe power cuts in the state, at least until June end when the monsoon will arrive, hopefully, to enhance hydro power generation.

MSEB Chairman Jayant Kawle told Business Standard that MSEB had inked short-term contracts (three months) with Adani Exports and Power Trading Corporation (PTC) and NTPC's subsidiary NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd for purchase of power from other states to tide over the power crisis in Maharashtra.

In addition, Tata Power Company (TPC) will also sell its excess power (unutilised power from its Mumbai grid) to MSEB to meet the shortfall in other parts of the state.