Power outages in Maharashtra as demand rises, coal supply drops

MUMBAI : Shortage of coal along with the rise in demand during peak hours is leading to power outages in parts of the state, including Uran, Mumbra in Thane and rural parts of Nashik, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Akola and Nagpur.

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Corporation Limited (MSEDCL) gets about 18,143MW, including the power generated from private power generators. The rise in the temperature and more use of agricultural pumps have increased the demand to 20,000-20,500 MW, around 20% more than the demand in September. The shortfall of about 2,500MW has led to load shedding for upto nine hours and it is likely to last for at least for the next few days.

The shortfall of coal by around four to five rakes a day has further hit the power generation, which has dropped by at least by 30%. Rain deficit has also led to restrictions on the generation of power from the Koyna hydroelectric project, which has dropped the power generation to 1,375 MW, from its installed capacity of 2,100MW.

The load shedding has been imposed, depending on the lowest recovery and theft. The recovery losses in the areas facing power outages is more than 58% and in some areas upto 85%. “We faced a similar shortfall during the same period last year too. Like last year, the situation will be resolved within the next few days,” said Arvind Singh, principal secretary, energy department.

The state is expected to reduce the power supply to agricultural pumps to eight hours, from 12 hours a day.

The state is overdrawing about 1,000MW from the central grid, while 3,200MW is being purchased from power exchange.

Meanwhile, the state ministers expressed their concerns over the load shedding.