Pune to face 6 hours 30 minutes of daily power cuts
News — By The Desk on July 25, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Expressindia.com: The Pune zero load-shedding model has been temporarily withdrawn from today and citizens will have to brace for six-and-a-half hour long power cuts from tomorrow. Terming the power generation scene in the state ‘critical’, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) said that Pune division has no other option but to increase the load-shedding to six hours. Till now, load-sheddings in the city were 3 hours and 45 minutes.
Malls, multiplexes, hospitals and other complexes which run on high tension lines have been told to reduce consumption by 20 per cent and their meters will be monitored, MSEDCL Chief Engineer (Pune division) R B Gautam told reporters on Thursday. Orders will be issued for hoardings in the city and expressway to switch off the MSEDCL power supply and consumers on exclusive express feeders will be told to conserve energy by 20 per cent, he said.
Even as load-sheddings commenced in industrial areas for 24 hours a week today, from tomorrow they will go up to 40 hours a week in the state. The gap in the demand and supply of energy has been increasing, Gautam rued. While power cuts are being announced for 14 hours in rural areas and nine-and-a-half hours at talukas, the city too will have to face power cuts for 5 hours and 45 minutes in certain areas and 6 hours and 30 minutes in others.
According to the schedule, Group A areas which fall under the Kothrud, Shivajinagar, Bundgarden, Padmavati and Parvati sub-divisions will now face power cuts for five hours and 45 minutes while the Group B areas which fall under Pimpri, Bhosari, Rasta Peth and Nagar Road sub-divisions will face a power cut for six hours and 30 minutes. The power cuts will be staggered and load-shedding will be implemented in two time slots.
In Group A, four categories have been created and the time slots will vary. In areas identified in Group A(1) load-sheddings will be from 6 am to 8.45 am and 1.15 pm to 4.15 pm, while in Group A(2) from 7.30 am to 10.15 am and 1.15 pm to 4.15 pm. Group A (3) areas will face power cuts from 8.45 am to 11.45 am and 4.15 pm to 7 pm while Group A(4) areas will face power cuts from 10.15 am to 1.15 pm and 4.15 pm to 7 pm. In Group B(1) and (4) areas, the load-shedding will be from 6.30 am to 9.45 am and 1 pm to 4.45 pm while in Group B(2) and (3) areas the time slots for load-shedding will be from 9.45 am to 1 pm and 4.15 pm to 7.30 pm.
Gautam said that the Pune zero load-shedding model that was in effect since June 2006, whereby power was generated through captive power plants by 30 industries in the city, was being temporarily withdrawn. They are barely generating 20-22 MW and the interim franchisee, Tata Power Company, has been unable to procure power and generates only 20-25 MW.
Hence, the shortfall has increased and till October 1, where the TPC has entered into an agreement with MSEDCL to supply power, the Pune zero-load shedding model has been temporarily withdrawn. The levying of reliability charges will be decided by the Maharashtra Energy Regulatory Commission (MERC). This is a temporary arrangement due to the critical power situation, Gautam said.
Also see:
Tags: 6 hours 30 minutes, chief engineer, load-shedding, MSEDCL, R B Gautam-
Rohit
