Mahavitaran suffers Rs 873 cr loss due to floods

Maharashtra power minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said on Wednesday that MSEDCL, the state power distribution company, incurred a loss of Rs 873 crore due the damage caused to electricity polls and transformers by the floods in Kolhapur and Sangli districts.

Despite the damage caused to its infrastructure, electricity supply has been restored to 2,73,817 out of 3.90 lakh consumers, said Bawankule.

The MSEDCL has also decided to give additional one month to people to pay their bills in view of loss of income and damage to property due to the floods, he added.

MSEDCL incurred a loss of Rs 523 crore in Kolhapur and Rs 350 crore in Sangli as transformers and meters were submerged in water and thousands of electricity polls collapsed or were bent, he said.

The MSEDCL will not charge consumers for replacement of damaged meters in flood-affected area, the minister added.

Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Subhash Deshmukh said the government will pay compensation of Rs 30,000 to every person for loss of cattle in the floods.

Meanwhile, Sharmila Thackeray, MNS chief Raj Thackeray's wife, on Wednesday visited flood-affected people in Karad tehsil of Satara district and assured them of help from the party.

Bollywood actor Urmila Matondkar, who contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election on Congress ticket, also visited flood victims. She also met NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Kolhapur to discuss the flood situation.