Despite power crisis MP returns 200 Mw daily to Delhi, Mumbai

Despite reeling under a severe power crisis, Madhya Pradesh is currently returning around 200 Mega Watt (Mw) power daily to New Delhi and Mumbai under "power banking".     

"We took power from Delhi and Mumbai during the last Rabi season and are returning it under power banking system," Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board (MPSEB) Secretary P K Vaishya told PTI.     

He said under the power banking system, states take power during crisis period from other states and return it as per the agreement.     

"We took power from these two places between October 2008 and March 2009 and had to return it in April- May, but we sought some more time. We are giving back the electricity now," Vaishya said.     

"The MPSEB will continue to return power to Delhi and Mumbai till September," he said.     

Madhya Pradesh is facing a severe power crisis as the electricity shortage has jumped to over 1,500 Mw during the peak hours and the situation was no good during the off peak hours as well, officials said.     

The state's rural areas, tehsil, district and divisional headquarters were witnessing power cuts for 14 hours, 12, five and three hours daily respectively. Divisional headquarters here has been exempted from power cuts, they added.