Nagpur: The Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and over seven dozen MLAs raised the issue of coal shortage and load-shedding during Question Hour in Assembly on the third day of winter session.
In his written reply, the State Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that the load-shedding was carried out from October 3 to 7, 2017. In the metro cities of the state, the power cuts were effected from October 4 to 6, 2017. The MSEDCL has negotiated a long-term deal with Mahagenco to purchase 31197 MW of power from private as well as Central Power Stations. But due to shortage of coal in October, only 16,500 MW of power was available. Till October 15, 1450 MW and till October 31, 1100 MW of power was purchased. Moreover, the power was purchased as per the need on daily basis.
Bawankule further said that MSEDCL submitted an application to Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) and took permission for purchasing power at more than Rs 4 per unit. In the month of October, 619.74 lakh units of power was purchased at the rate of Rs 3.96 per unit.
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Thursday 09 Jan. 2025
GR related to legislators cancelled:
The NCP member Dilip Walse Patil informed the House that the government has restricted the legislators from seeking direct information from any of the departments by issuing a GR in this connection. This GR amount to injustice to MLAs. The MLAs themselves prepare rules in the Assembly but the Secretaries prove to be hurdle in informing the rules to MLAs. They are told to seek information through RTI. This is insult.
The Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who was present in the House immediately announced cancellation of the GR. He said there is no intention to curb rights of the MLAs.
At 11.35, the House was adjourned again as the government had not collected all relevant information regarding cotton crop failure in 40 lakh hectares in Vidarbha, Khandesh and Marathwada. A discussion on the issue was slated today under Call Attention Motion. However, the Speaker deferred the discussion for lack of relevant information. This sparked utter chaos by Opposition members forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for 10 minutes.
