Even as the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) continues to reel under financial strain with non-payment of dues up to Rs8,000 crore, the state government seems to have added to its woes.
The government is yet to shell out over Rs600 crore for the 1,500 MW power it had directed MSEDCL to purchase to avoid shortage during parliamentary elections.
In 2009, there were load-shedding concerns in the entire state, including the urban areas of Thane, Navi Mumbai, Mulund, Bhandup, Pune as well as Nagpur. Rs200 crore each for March, April and May were spent to purchase power from traders outside the state to curb load-shedding across major cities except Mumbai, where Reliance and Tata supply power.
On behalf of the state, the Tata Power Trading Corporation (TPTC) buys power from distributors across the country and supplies to the areas like Thane, Navi Mumbai and Pune on a daily basis to meet the shortfall.
“The government has made a provision of Rs156 crore in this budget. As for the balance, the finance department has assured to pay the money this year. However, we are not confident,” said a senior energy department official.
