Maharashtra seeks Rs 1800 crore from Gujarat for stoppage of SSP electricity

Mumbai

Maharashtra government has demanded a compensation of Rs 1,800 crore from Gujarat for not supplying the state’s share of electricity produced by riverbed power houses built under the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) on Narmada.

Gujarat government has suspended the power generation at RBPHs since October due to the falling water levels, reserving the water in reservoirs for drinking purpose.

“We are not getting our share of electricity and ultimately it reflects in supply of continuous power to the people,” an official of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd said here.

Under the Narmada Tribunal Award, Madhya Pradesh is entitled to 57 per cent share of the total 1,450 MW of power generated by RBPHs and Canal Head Power Houses, while Maharashtra and Gujarat get 27 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively.

Maharashtra Power Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule confirmed that Gujarat had not supplied Maharashtra its share of power and the latter had asked for compensation, but said he was not aware of the amount asked for.

However, the MSEDCL official said the state had asked for a compensation of Rs 1,800 crore from Gujarat.

According to the official, in 2014-15 MSEDCL received 767 Million Units (MUs) of power, amounting to Rs 160 crore.

In 2015-16, it received 565 MUs amounting to Rs 115.89 crore.

In April 2016, MSEDCL received only 4.21 MUs power amounting to Rs 86 lakh.

PTI