Few areas of Maharashtra are regularly facing power cuts as the demand has exceeded the supply. Rural Nashik, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, and other parts of Marathwada are the areas facing power cuts of up to eight hours, sometimes even more. What has added to the woes of power-deficit in the state, a shortfall in supply by private power producers has led to the state electricity distribution utility restarting load-shedding to overcome the gap between demand and supply. The government has left with no option but to accept the grim situation. But at the same time one more factor which is responsible for the power cuts is the union government. Disruptions in the supply of coal which is seen as one of the reasons for the significant demand-supply gap in electricity.
The growth in electricity demand due to the soaring heat, rise in consumption by industrial and agricultural consumers and the nationwide coal crisis has affected coal inventories at state-owned Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited’s (MahaGenco) thermal power stations. The surge in demand for electricity has led to a deficit of around 2,500 to 3,000 megawatts (MW) in power. The state needs 25,000 MW of electricity. However, only 21,000 to 22,000 MW of electricity is being supplied. Maharashtra faces fear of power outage.
Significantly, the budget presented by the Mahayuti government gave some sigh of relief to the agrarian community with the announcements of various schemes. The Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar presented the state budget with the theme “Self-reliant Farmers, Prosperous Farmers”. Budget included schemes for direct seed subsidies, irrigation facilities, modern tech, ancillary industries, value addition to produce, and improved storage and market availability. The provision for free electricity for farmers, milk subsidy and solar power project for uninterrupted daytime electricity was highlighted in the budget.
Ajit Pawar announced a significant relief measure for the state’s farmers. Under the Mukhya Mantri Baliraja Vij Savlat Yojana, the government has made the provision to waive off electricity bill dues for a total of 44.06 lakh farmers. Additionally, the government also declared to bear the cost of agriculture pumps up to 7.5 horsepower capacity, providing a massive subsidy of Rs. 14,761 crore. This decision was taken in response to the recent drastic changes in seasonal weather patterns and global climate change, which have had a significant impact on the state’s agricultural sector. A Rs. 15,000 crore project has been undertaken to separate and solarize agricultural electricity grids, aiming to provide uninterrupted daytime electricity to farmers. The “Magel Tyala Solar Power Pump” scheme will provide solar power pumps to 8.50 lakh farmers, offering free electricity.
The power cut has directly affected the farmers and workers and labourers working in small industrial units. Due to power cut some of the industrial units pulled down the shutter as a result many casual workers rendered jobless.
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