Mahavitaran forced to impose load-shedding across Maharashtra as power demand outstrips supply

Pune: A big change is visible in the weather these days. The state's temperature has risen considerably, and 'El Nino' has been cited as the reason. Meanwhile, Mahavitaran has now been forced to impose load-shedding in the state. Demand for electricity has risen and the available supply is falling short of it, which is why the decision had to be taken. It has emerged that load-shedding has been under way in the state for about the past week.

Since October 3, load-shedding has been carried out across the state during the evening hours, when demand is higher. From last Wednesday (the 7th), load-shedding was also carried out at 6 am and 7 am, in addition to the evening. On Saturday, load-shedding was caused by a shortfall of about 750 MW. The shortfall then widened. On Thursday (the 8th), the shortage of power was more than 1,000 MW, while on Friday (the 9th) it went above 1,800 MW. The Maharashtra State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC) has put the details of how much load-shedding took place on its website.

According to these SLDC figures, the state's daily power demand has reached about 30,000 MW. Of this, about 25,000 MW is demand from Mahavitaran's consumers, while about 4,000 MW is demand from consumers in Mumbai. There is no load-shedding in Mumbai. The companies that supply power there, Adani, BEST and Tata, are given additional electricity by Mahavitaran.

Pune will finally have water cuts too. Under the order issued by the state government in view of drought conditions, the Pune Municipal Corporation has decided to keep the water supply shut for one day a week from next Thursday (the 15th). The rules for this have been put in place. The Water Resources Department had directed that the city's water supply be cut by 40 per cent. But a cut that large could create a water shortage. For this reason, the civic body has decided to keep the supply shut for one day a week.