pune

Updated: Sep 13, 2017 17:19 IST

Pune: City-based activists have blamed Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited’s (MSEDCL) inefficiency and poor planning for its recent statement that the power utility has implemented temporary load-shedding across the state as it is facing unavailability of coal.

The state power utility on Monday released a statement that due to problems with availability and supply of coal to electricity producing plants, a temporary load-shedding is being carried across the state.

“Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MAHAGENCO) is supposed to provide 7,000 MW of power while Adani Power Company is supposed to generate 4,500 MW for distribution. But due to problems with unavailability of coal, MAHAGENCO is supplying only 4,500 MW of power while Adani is supplying only 1,700-2,000 MW of power," a MSEDCL official said.

The officials added that MSEDCL is making efforts to increase power availability and 395 MW has been purchased from the market which would be available in the coming two days.They stated that efforts are also being made to buy power from the power exchange.

Meanwhile, city-based civic activist Vivek Velankar said that the reason of unavailability of coal for shortage of power put forth by MSEDCL is questionable. He asked that even if there is coal shortage whose responsibility it was to ensure sufficient supply to the plants. “At a time when power demand from agriculture sectors, industries and even residential users is not very high, load-shedding by MSEDCL seems unnecessary and the real reasons for the same seem to be hidden,” he said.

Maharashtra Veej Grahak Sanghatana president Pratap Hogade said, “MSEDCL had told Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) that they have 30,255 MW of power during May. Yet, there was load-shedding in loss making regions in May similar to what is being done now when the demand was just little above 19,000 MW.”

He said that the real reasons for load-shedding are lack of efficiency and lack of planning by MSEDCL and MAHAGENCO which must be addressed.

Hogade stated that the capacity charges paid by consumers should be returned for the period of load-shedding as consumers should not face the burnt of problems like unavailability of coal which they are not responsible for.