West Bengal witnessed severe loadshedding on Tuesday on the occasion of Lakshmi Puja with a possibility of supply to CESC being cut. The shortfall in the state grid is 500 MW as the total power is just 1900 MW in the state distribution area, a WBSEDCL spokesperson said. "There is a strong possibility of cutting supply by 100 MW to CESC unless there is some improvement in generation by the state units, he said. Taking both CESC and WBSEDCL the shortfall could touch 600 MW in the state. There was rotational loadshedding in the districts,which would continue at night,officials said. They said the state distribution company was unable to pay for the power purchased from the generation company and in chain effect,the coal supply by Coal India had been curtailed and hence generation had to be curtailed. The shortfall was not due to technical glitch,but for insufficient coal to units. The situation arose after the West Bengal State Distribution Co Ltd could not raise the tariff from consumers for the last two years despite mounting costs facing a severe cash flow crunch.
