TPC, Reliance Energy asked to get 200 MW for Metropolis

Mumbai, Apr 1 (UNI) Tata Power Company (TPC) and Reliance Energy, the main companies supplying power to the Metropolis, will have to arrange for an additional 150 to 200 MW power in a day or two to tide over the severe power crunch.

This was decided at a meeting here this evening between officials of the companies and Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) being presided over by Principal Secretary (Energy) Rahul Ashthana.

The meeting followed a complaint from the MSEB, alleging that TPC has been quietly drawing 200 MW from the grid to save the city from power cuts.

Maharashtra state electricity distribution corporation is facing power shortage of 4,500 MW, leading to rest of the state undergoing load shedding.

Both the companies have been asked not to take power from Maharashtra state electricity grid and make arrangements on their own to meet the shortfall.

The next meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday when the review would be taken whether the shortfall in the city was made up or not and subsequently the decision on load shedding in city would be taken, if necessary.

A TPC official said it was arranging to get 60 MW from TISCO in Jamshedpur, 50 MW from Sikkim and another 100 MW from Hyderabad-based Lanco Power Ltd.

Despite getting 210 MW from outside, there would be a shortfall of 150 MW, the official said.

MSEB sources said the situation was grim as the demand for power has been increasing at five per cent per annum in the city and eight per cent per annum in the suburbs, with power utilities in Mumbai finding it difficult to source power to meet the ever-increasing demands.

UNI