NCP to hold protests against load-shedding Friday

The NCP is holding a lantern protest against load-shedding in parts of Maharashtra October 12 to highlight the inconvenience being caused to people due to power cuts in the festive season.

Parts of Maharashtra are facing load-shedding due to shortage of coal and rising demand of electricity.

The women's wing of the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) would hold demonstrations in areas affected by power cuts at 6:30 PM on October 12.

On the same day, the youth wing of the NCP too would stage protests outside the offices of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB), the party's state unit president Jayant Patil said in a statement.

"People are being inconvenienced due to load-shedding at a time when farmers in the state are feeling the pinch due to drought. The NCP would flag the issue," the statement said.

Power Minister Chandrashekhar Bavankule had said that parts of the state are likely to face load-shedding in the coming days in view of the rise in electricity demand.

The load-shedding is likely to coincide with the upcoming festive season.

The average requirement in this season is generally about 16,000 MW. But this time, due to the rise in demand, the actual requirement is around 20,000 MW, Bavankule had said.