Keeping in mind the future power requirements of the Mumbai region, the Maharashtra government plans to sign a MoU with Tata Power for sourcing 1,000 MW from the upcoming Dherand Thermal Project, said Maharashtra’s Power Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday.

Addressing the media at the State Secretariat, he said both power requirement and transmission capacity for the Mumbai region requires further augmentation. The tie-up with Tata Power is a step in that direction. Since the present State government came to power, the transmission capacity for Mumbai city has increased by 1300 MW, he said.

Bawankule did not specify the timeline or the tariff at which the electricity would be procured from Tata Power.

Power subsidies

The Minister also announced a series of power subsidies for industries located in Vidarbha, Marathwada, Northern Maharashtra and other areas of the State, which have been classified as D and D-plus industrial areas. The subsidies were announced by a committee after a 13-month study of the power situation in the State. The subsidies are applicable with retrospective effect from April 1, 2016.

Bawankule said the subsidies have been provided so that industries in the backward regions such as Vidarbha and Marathwada become viable. The subsidies would be dependent on load factors. The subsidy burden on the State exchequer would be about ₹1,011 crore, which would be paid to Mahagenco, he said.

A press statement issued by Maharashtra State Energy Department said that for new industries in these regions, the subsidy would be from 50 to 75 paise per unit.

For industries in the Vidarbha region, it will vary from 30 piase to ₹1.52 paise per unit, while for Marathwada, it will be from 25 paise to ₹1 per unit, the statement said.

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