Power crisis rocks Assembly

Mumbai, Mar 16 (UNI) Heated arguments over acute shortage of power, currently faced by the State, was the main topic of discussion in the Assembly, which led to four adjournments.

The Chair had to adjourn the House four times, first for 15 minutes and then for 30 minutes each.

Agitated members shouted slogans against State Energy Minister Dilip Valse-Patil and described him as ''kandeel'' (lantern) Patil and charged him of failure to tackle load-shedding in Maharashtra.

The State is currently facing a shortage of 5,500 MW during peak hours.

BJP member Sardar Tara Singh was also seen carrying four lanterns inside the Lower House, to highlight the issue.

''We are making all possible efforts to tide over the crisis and the results are being felt and would be more visible in a short span of time,'' Mr Walse-Patil said.

His reply, however, did not satisfy the Opposition, leading to uproarious scenes.

Members of the Oposition criticised the government for delaying the pending power projects like Paras and Parli and demanded concrete steps to tide over the power crisis.

Referring to the nine-page reply given by the government to the Calling Attention Notice on power situation, Congress member Nana Patole said people were not interested in long replies but definite steps. ''The replies of the government are becoming as long as the duration of the load-shedding in rural areas,'' he said.

Shiv Sena member Datta Nalawade said MLAs, who had come from rural areas were not interested in long replies but specific answers on how the loadshedding would be stopped.

Earlier, Mr Walse-Patil said the government had planned Rs 65,000 crore for the entire power sector development. Of this, 30,000 crore would be for power generation and Rs 14,500 crore for infrastructure development and improving transmission and distribution. He said about 555 new sub-stations would be set up over the period of five years. The minister informed that 20 per cent equity would be provided to power generation projects intiated by the State government. Besides, there is a proposal for differential rate of tariff structure where T&D losses were low. But, the issue will be decided by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC), he said.

Deputy Speaker Pramod Shende, who was in the chair before the first adjournment, accepted the Opposition's demand for a detailed discussion on the power shortage next week.

UNI