Starved of power, Maharashtra govt finally plugs in to the Dabhol plant

The Democratic Front Government’s coordination committee had favoured a one-year contract with IDBI for buying power from the rusting plant in Dabhol in Konkan.

The panel had observed that the State was a facing severe power shortage, and that immediate steps were necessary to avoid load-shedding. A team of experts has already visited Dabhol and reported that the plant could be made operational soon. Another committee, headed by Chief Secretary Ajit Nimbalkar, had also suggested that the plant be re-started immediately.

The Cabinet today discussed other recommendations of the Nimbalkar committee, namely, that the timing of work shifts in industrial units be changed, that power theft be checked by invoking provisions of the Bombay Police Act, that government offices and local self-governments launch drives to cut back power consumption and that restrictions be imposed on neon signs and billboards in cities.