MUMBAI: State energy minister Nitin Raut on Monday demanded special economic package for the power sector due to lockdown period and enlist electricity in the list of essential commodities by the Centre.
Raut made this demand during the power purchase review meeting with private power producers via video conferencing on Monday.
The meeting was held to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the lockdown period.
The Mahavitaran is purchasing power from private and public sector generators to provide uninterrupted power supply to the consumers during the lockdown period. Due to the ongoing nationwide lockdown, the bill recovery from consumers is very low. As a result, the MSEDCL has been facing difficulty in making payment for power purchase. During such times, the Centre should help the Mahavitaran, he added.
He further demanded the Centre to come out with a strategy wherein financial institutions would be able to lend the MSEDCL at much lower interest rate and the National Thermal Power Station to give bill discount.
"Due to summer heat, Ramadan and industrial demand from green zone, there is rise in overall power demand which needs to be fulfilled," Raut added.
Raut made this demand during the power purchase review meeting with private power producers via video conferencing on Monday.
The meeting was held to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the lockdown period.
The Mahavitaran is purchasing power from private and public sector generators to provide uninterrupted power supply to the consumers during the lockdown period. Due to the ongoing nationwide lockdown, the bill recovery from consumers is very low. As a result, the MSEDCL has been facing difficulty in making payment for power purchase. During such times, the Centre should help the Mahavitaran, he added.
He further demanded the Centre to come out with a strategy wherein financial institutions would be able to lend the MSEDCL at much lower interest rate and the National Thermal Power Station to give bill discount.
"Due to summer heat, Ramadan and industrial demand from green zone, there is rise in overall power demand which needs to be fulfilled," Raut added.
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