Maharashtra now 82 % loadshedding-free: Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra has become 82 per cent loadshedding-free as only those areas where transmission and distribution (T&D) losses are more than 42 per cent are facing power cuts, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said today.
"Loadshedding is done wherever necessary. If the T&D losses are curbed, power shortage issue will be resolved," Pawar, who holds the Power as well as the Finance portfolios, told the Legislative Assembly while replying to a debate on the state budget.
He was responding to criticism from the Opposition during the debate that the government had failed to live up to its promise of zero-loadshedding by December 2012.

Pawar said the electricity demand as of now is 14,700 mw, while the generation is 14,200 mw.
"There is a shortfall of 500 mw. We are not getting 300 mw electricity from Dabhol power plant due to the non-availability of gas and from the two units at Parli because of the lack of water," he said.
The minister also announced that Rs 500 crore would be provided for adivasi housing under the Shabri Gharkul Yojana and Rs 50 crore for Maulana Azad Minorities Finance & Development Corporation.

He announced setting up of a cultural centre at Mumbra in Thane.
Referring to the actual irrigation potential of the state, Pawar said there is a different machinery to decide the percentage of actual irrigation potential in the command area and beyond. "It is not done by the Water Resources Department. Hence, last year's 17.9 per cent was also estimated. The SIT headed by Madhav Chitale will be able to take the actual final percentage," he said.

He also rejected the Opposition's charge that the government was indulging in regional bias over disbursement of development funds.
Pawar said 25 per cent of the total budget was being utilised for the long-term drought relief measures.
After the reply, the state budget was passed in the legislative assembly.