Pune: Chakan Industries Report Significant Losses Due to Electricity Disruption
Reported by Varad Bhatkhande
Chakan, 23rd September 2024: Today, there was a sudden disruption in electricity in the Chakan area, impacting many industries and causing significant tangible and intangible losses for businesses and residents. The Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (Mahatransco) reported that a 220 kV high-voltage transformer in Ale Phata had issues, resulting in a three-hour outage this morning. However, the people of Chakan claim that the problem persisted much longer.
Mahatransco clarified that the Khed Taluka area, including Chakan, Waki Khurd, Biradwadi, Rohakal, Kadachi Wadi, Rase, Rahanubai Mala, and Medankarwadi, receives electricity from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited’s (MSEDCL) Ambethan and Volkswagen 22 KVs. Due to a problem with the Interconnecting Transformer (ICT) of Mahatransco’s 220 kV line in Ale Phata, over 12,000 domestic, business, and industrial electricity connections were cut off starting at 8:15 AM today.
Residents and industries in Chakan have frequently raised concerns about inconsistent electricity supply, which damages industrial output and results in losses. In addition to unreliable electricity, industries here face challenges such as traffic congestion, poor road infrastructure, safety risks, labour issues, and pollution.
Mahatransco stated that once the transformer issue was identified, technical measures were immediately implemented to ensure a smooth power supply through an alternative system. By 11:15 AM, the electricity supply to Ambethan and Volkswagen 22 KV power lines of MSEDCL was restored from the alternative arrangement at the Chinchwad 220 kV substation. Meanwhile, Mahatransco has begun work to replace the faulty interconnecting transformer.
Dileep Batwal, Secretary of the Federation of Chakan Industries, told Punekar News, “Losses worth crores were reported from this area due to the electricity supply being cut off today. We experienced production losses in industries, and even machinery has been damaged or malfunctioned due to power fluctuations. We have raised this issue with MSEDCL many times. It is a mistake to depend on them for electricity, and when they will change is a big question.”
