Patil to convene all party meet on power crisis

Mumbai, Apr 25 (UNI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Mr R R Patil today said an all party meet would be convened soon to discuss the prevailing power scenario, and growing incidents of violent demonstrations against load-shedding.

Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Patil said the current power deficit in the state was 4500 mega watt, and the transmission and distribution losses have also not reduced.

He said the government was contemplating to reward people who give information about the power thefts in order to reduce the P&D losses. ''A proposal to this effect has been given to the energy department,'' the Deputy Chief Minister said.

He said the need of the hour was to bring discipline in the power consumption in big cities like Mumbai.

Mr Patil also informed that adequate police bandobust would be provided to all the morchas being taken out against load-shedding.

Earlier, a delegation of Maharashtra State Irrigation Federation, led by Prof N D Patil, called on the Deputy Chief Minister and held discussions on the prevailing power crisis in the state.

Prof Patil suggested that there should not be any kind of discrimination against the marginal farmers on the power supply, and they should be treated at par with the big malls and plush shopping complexes.

The deputy chief minister assured the delegation that he would take up the issue with the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Replying to a question on the impending arrest of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's sister Haseena Parkar, Mr Patil said she would be arrested after proper investigation and police gather evidence against her.

When asked whether the list of the corrupt officials in the police department would be made public, Patil replied in the negative.

''Police officers with doubtful integrity will be transferred to places where there would be no scope for corruption'', he said.

UNI