Will check power transmission loss in Maha: Energy Minister

The Maharashtra Energy Department will make all efforts to minimise transmission losses and improve power generation to make it available at reasonable rates to consumers, state Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said today.
The transmission lines are old, in bad condition and quite lengthy which need to be curtailed to avoid power failure in villages, Bawankule, who was on Friday inducted as Cabinet Minister in the state government, told reporters here.
The quality of coal supply will also be checked and if possible, MahaGenco would be permitted to set up and operate coal washeries, he said.
The coal washeries will help check the undesired materials like stones and dust and will help improve calorific value of coal per tonne, which will ultimately improve power generation, he said.

The other concern is pollution, said Bawankule who stays close to Koradi Thermal Power Station near Nagpur.
The minister said he was aware of the air and water pollution around power plants in the state and that he will take necessary steps to check flying ash content in coal-fired power stations with the help of a new technology.

Also, there would be no compromise on tackling corruption issues. They will be thoroughly probed in all aspects, including coal supply, procurement of equipment and other spares, he said.
To a question, Bawankule said the government will reconsider subsidy to the tune of Rs 750 crore per month for industries, which was purely a political decision for a limited period.

Approximately Rs 10,000 crore was being given per year in this scheme which was unjust, he claimed.