Urban areas in Mah to face additional loadshedding

Mumbai, Feb 6 (UNI) In wake of protests in Umrer town against the frequent power tripping, urban areas in Maharashtra will face an additional loadshedding from one to two hours soon.

The decision was taken a meeting of Mahavitaran, the power distribution company of the state government, chaired by Energy Minister Dilip Valse Patil.

Mr Patil, along with Minister of State for Energy, Jayant Kawle and the Mahavitaran MD Ajay Bhushan Pandey, also met MERC officials to discuss the loadshedding due to Under Frequency Relay (UFR) incidents.

The UFR incidents take place because of the overdrawal of power by northern states from the national grid.

The emergency loadshedding will be implemented after MERC approves the proposal, a Mahavitaran spokesperson said.

Mulund, Bhandup areas in North East Mumbai, Thane, Navi umbai, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Nashik, which face loadshedding from two and half to four hours daily, will now have three and half to five hours loadshedding. Similarly, in cities which see loadshedding of four and half to six hours daily will face loadshedding from six and half to eight hours.

In rural areas the 12 hour schedule of loadshedding will increase to 14 hours.

Stating that the unrest in Umred was to demand uninterrupted power supply, the spokesperson said action will be taken against Mahavitaran officers who do not observe the loadshedding protocol as stipulated. Superintendent engineer of Yavatmal circle P T Gavande has been shifted from Yavatmal and serious disciplinary action will be taken against him, the spokesperson added.

The demand for electricity is 14600 mw as against the availability of 9500 mw and 9800 mw and the shortfall has increased to 5500 mw, he said.

UNI