Workers defer agitation

Employees of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) have deferred their proposed indefinite strike which was to begin tomorrow.

Maharashtra's energy minister Dilipwalse Patil today said that the state government has been able to persuade the trade unions, representing workers of the state electricity board, to defer their plans to launch an indefinite strike from Tuesday.

"The workers' unions were demanding a resolution on three issues "" wage revisions, pension and the scheduled unbundling of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB). However, considering the power situation prevailing in the state, the unions have agreed to defer their agitation plans," Patil said.

Refuting reports of an acute coal shortage, MSEB chairman Jayant Kawle said that adequate stocks of coal were available for power generation.

"It is a fact that during the summer months, production slacks are experienced as the coal mining operations are conducted in the open and the fatigue level among workmen causes slowdown in movement of the coal from the mines. However, the situation is not alarming," Kawle said.

Patil noted that three incidents of attacks on MSEB offices were reported from across the state today, with 17 persons, mostly affiliated to the Shiv Sena being arrested for vandalising and setting fire to the electricity board's office in Pune district.

Similar instances of disruptions (mostly stone throwing) were also reported from Nagpur and Aurangabad, he added.

"While yesterday on account of May day and Maharashtra day, no loadshedding was resorted to by the MSEB, this was largely as most commercial and industrial establishments were shut. Today, however, loadshedding to the extent of 3000 MW was witnessed. The power scenario is grim," he said.

Patil added that, however, the state government had entered into an arrangement with the Andhra Pradesh Transmission Corporation (APTC) for the oftake of around 700 MW to 900 MW of power during the non-critical non-peak hour period (11 pm to 5 pm).

"Moreover, after we launched a nine hour loadshedding plan for rural areas and four hour loadshedding plan for urban areas, there have been no instances of the MSEB having to resort to a suddent power cut in any regions in the state. In some cases the load shedding is evenly resorted to in the morning hours and evening hours. In other cases the power cuts are conducted in one go by the concerned regional MSEB officials," Patil said.

Patil added that a presentation on the power scenario in the state had been made to the opposition parties despite which they were resorting to arson and physical attacks against MSEB officials and premises over the loadshedding.

"Over the next five years over 3000 MW power generation capacity will be added in Maharashtra from the Uran, Talegaon, Khaparkhede and Sardar Sarovar Project. In addition the state will be able to draw the same amount of energy from the national grid. However, the immediate power cruch situation cannot be resolved overnight. We are also looking forward to the 1800 odd MW of power that would become available to the state following the restarting of the Dabhol Power Company plant," Patil said.