ASIA

Permanent Power Outages in Maharashtra Lead to Massive Arrears

TDN

Akola: There has been a huge increase in the number of arrears of permanent power supply (PD) customers. 'PD 'customers have given a blow to MSEDCL and Marathwada has the highest amount of such customers. PD customers in western Maharashtra and Vidarbha also have huge outstanding dues. The challenge before MSEDCL is to recover from the Abhay Yojana.

MSEDCL's perennial power outages make it challenging to recover dues from consumers due to various issues. In many places, there was a rise in cases of permanent power outages due to change of land owners. The Supreme Court ruled that MSEDCL has the right to recover the dues with interest. Several attempts were made to recover the dues from the customers. However, he did not get the desired response. Therefore, now MSEDCL has started a new effort to recover the arrears. The scheme came into effect from September 1 this year. All high-pressure and low-pressure consumers will be eligible for the scheme.



38 million customers.
As many as 38 lakh consumers in the state owe MSEDCL Rs 5048 crore in principal dues, Rs 1719 crore in interest and Rs 69.90 crore in overdue amounts. Consumers in Marathwada, which has a permanent power outage, have the highest outstanding amount. These include Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar City Rs. 290.80 crore, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Rural Rs. 161.14 crore, Jalna Rs. 302.16 crore, Beed Rs. 387.51 crore, Dharashiv Rs. 133.87 crore, Latur Rs. 104.16 crore, Hingoli Rs. 126.13 crore, Nanded Rs. 162.35 crore and Parbhani Rs. 345.43 crore.

In Western Maharashtra, Pune Rural has accumulated Rs. 165.55 crore, Ganeshkhind Mandal Rs. 160.78 crore, Rashtrapeth Rs. 145.81 crore, Sangli Rs. 55.32 crore, Kolhapur Rs. 89.10 crore, Solapur Rs. 114.76 crore, Satara Rs. 42.67 crore, Baramati Rs. 127.97 crore and Ahmednagar Rs. 152.69 crore. Nagpur city division has the highest outstanding dues of Rs 203.31 crore in Vidarbha.

Akola Rs 71.93 crore, Buldhana Rs 94.33 crore, Washim Rs 58.97 crore, Amravati Rs 67.80 crore, Yavatmal Rs 89.17 crore, Chandrapur Rs 26.82 crore, Gadchiroli Rs 22.31 crore, Bhandara Rs 121.24 crore, Gondia Rs 14.74 crore, Nagpur Rural Rs 45.83 crore and Wardha Rs 18.93 crore. It also includes the diameter and the delay size. The number of arrears is also high in Kalyan, Vasai, Nashik, Jalgaon and other mandals of the state. The MSEDCL has to make efforts to recover it.

Unauthorised use of electricity
A study by MSEDCL has revealed that a majority of consumers with permanent power outages are unauthorised consumers. As a result, MSEDCL is facing a double whammy of revenue and distribution losses.


1788 crore will be waived off.
The Abhay scheme is being implemented from September 1 to provide relief to consumers from action. According to Lokesh Chandra, Chairman and Managing Director of MSEDCL, a total of Rs 1788 crore will be waived off under the scheme.