800 MW extra power for Maharashtra within a week: Ajit Pawar

Faced with severe power shortage, Maharashtra will get 800 MW electricity from the Centre within a week, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said here today.

This was decided after a meeting Pawar had with Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.

Maharashtra was facing power shortage of 3000 MW, Pawar said, adding that the state was getting 1000 MW less electricity than its allotted share from central projects.

With Diwali round the corner, Shinde has sanctioned 100 MW power from his discretionary quota with immediate effect, Pawar said.

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar also had a meeting with Union Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal, Minster of State for Coal Pratik Patil and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

At this meeting, Jaiswal sanctioned additional two rakes of coal for thermal plants in Maharashtra.

With the additional coal, Maharashtra would be able to generate 600-700 MW electricity, Pawar said.

Due to Orissa floods, coal available at Mahanadi coal mine has become wet resulting in shortage. This has affected coal supply to Koradi, Chandrapur, Paras and Khaparkheda power plants in Maharashtra.

Due to the Telangana crisis, coal supply from the Singareni coal mine in Andhra Pradesh has also been affected.