Maharashtra power shortage now only about 1500-2000 MW

MUMBAI: A sharp fall in demand coupled with increased availability has reduced the power shortfall in Maharashtra to a moderate 1500 to 2000 MW, officials said.

The demand for power has gone down to only about 11,500 to 12,000 MW, while the availability of power has improved to 9500 to 10,000 MW resulting in a shortfall of only about 2000 MW, Power Distribution Company -- Mahavitaran, Managing Director Ajay Bhushan Pandey said.

By early April, the demand for power had shot up to 14,000 MW while the supply had gone down to 8200 MW which forced 'Mahavitaran' to undertake an unprecedented load-shedding all across the state.

Now the load-shedding hours have been reduced and brought to the level that was there this time last year.

Referring to the Dabhol project, Pandey said the work on laying the gas pipeline is over and gas could be brought to Dabhol from June 20 and power generation using gas could start by June 25.

The Dabhol plant is generating power even now but using expensive Naphta which has pushed the per-unit cost to over Rs 7. The gas based power would cost only Rs 3.10 per unit.

'Mahavitaran' has also gone strict with power theft and has filed hundreds of FIRs against erring parties.

The top engineers have been told that they would be individually held responsible if the quantum of loss in their territory were to go up, he said.