Pune: The state govt would spend Rs1,100 crore to enhance the power infrastructureof the district. The assurance about improvementin the electricity supply network came from the govt on Saturday after some MLAs from Pune complained in the assembly about frequent power outages causing inconvenience and financial losses. BJP MLA from Bhosari Mahesh Landge raised the issue of frequent power cuts in the Pimpri Chinchwad area. Speaking in the assembly on Saturday, Landge said, ‘The issue of power outage is quite glaring in Pimpri Chinchwad. It has an IT park on one side and the MIDC on the other. Industries suffer financial losses because of power cuts. Professionals working from home also face inconvenience because of power cuts.”Landge also raised the issue of power theft in his constituency. “The administration took action against 5,000 illegal establishments in the Kudalwadi area. Ideally, there should have been 5,000 electricitymeters, but the authorities could find only 900. It means the rest of the establishments indulged in power theft.”Chinchwad MLA Shankar Jagtap spoke about the growing demand of electricity in Pimpri Chinchwad. He said, “As far as growth of Pimpri Chinchwad is concerned, the population is estimated to be over 90 lakh by 2051. The electricity department will have to make provision of power considering the future growth of the city.”Responding to the MLAs’ demands, minister of state for energy Meghna Bordikar said, “The govt has started taking measures to improve the electricity supply of Pune district. Considering the demand of power, govt has prepared a proposal of Rs 1,100 crore under Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). Out of Rs 1,100 crore, nearly Rs450 crore would be used for the electricitynetwork of Pimpri Chinchwad. Soon after sanctioning the proposal, the work to improve the electricity network will start in the district.“
