Kolkata, Sept. 15 -- Minister of State for Power Gargi Das Ghosh held a preparatory meeting with various stakeholders ahead of Durga Puja and reviewed arrangements to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply during the festive period.
The number of community Durga Pujas in Bengal is expected to cross 65,000 this year, with peak power demand likely to exceed 14,000 MW on Tritiya, which falls on October 13. In the WBSEDCL area, around 60,000 puja committees are expected to seek temporary electricity connections, up from 57,000 last year.
Ghosh directed agencies involved in power generation, transmission and distribution to ensure uninterrupted supply. She said utilities were taking all necessary measures to provide 24x7 reliable power from Mahalaya on October 10 to Lakshmi Puja on October 25. The expected increase in demand is also linked to the Chief Minister's announcement of free electricity supply to puja pandals.
Last year, the state government provided an 80 per cent discount on electricity connections to puja pandals, costing the exchequer around Rs 28 crore-Rs 30 crore.
WBSEDCL CMD Santanu Basu said the utility would purchase 15 per cent of its requirement directly from the market.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.