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Time of India
7 days ago
- Time of India
Smart meter blues? Saoner farmer left reeling by Rs2.39L electricity bill
Nagpur: Farmers in Kelwad village, about 45 km from Nagpur, were left shocked after receiving exorbitant power bills following the installation of smart meters by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd ( MSEDCL ). One farmer received a bill of Rs2.39 lakh, while another was billed Rs1.34 lakh, triggering outrage among villagers. Following the inflated bills, a group of locals gathered outside the MSEDCL office in Kelwad on Thursday, demanding clarification and immediate corrective action. MSEDCL later clarified that most consumers were billed based on their average summer electricity consumption. However, it admitted that two cases appeared to have inflated amounts. "Bills were generated using both the old meter reading and the initial reading from the new smart meters. In very few cases this overlap resulted in inflated bills. Only two consumers were found to have received abnormal bills, which were rectified. Both cases will be verified," an MSEDCL official said. TOI is in possession of both of the bills. The first, issued in the name of Venkati Gohatre, was Rs2.39 lakh. The second, issued to Shankar Bhangde, amounted to Rs1.34 lakh. Shankar's grandson, Golu Bhangde, told TOI they were shocked to see the inflated bill. "The inflated bill came right after the smart meter was installed. Last month, our bill was around Rs2,500. We approached MSEDCL officials, and they revised it to Rs1,150," he said. MSEDCL officials said that claims of smart meters resulting in inflated bills are inaccurate. "Nearly 4,000 smart meters have been installed so far in Saoner taluka. In cases where the replacement reading data wasn't uploaded into the system, consumers received bills based on average usage. Those who received inflated bills need not worry, revised bills will be issued after meter inspection. Consumers facing such issues can contact their local MSEDCL subdivision office," stated a press release issued by MSEDCL. The incident has added fuel to growing resistance against smart meter installations, a move that has faced stiff opposition from citizens and political parties. A key concern during the rollout was that smart meters would lead to inflated bills, a claim MSEDCL has consistently denied.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Time of India
Civic Apathy Leaves Electric Posts in Middle of Roads, Accidents Mount
Nagpur: Despite years of public outcry, road accidents, and even strictures from the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court, hundreds of electric poles still stand dangerously in the middle of roads across the city. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), in its 2025-26 budget, finally earmarked Rs25 crore for resolving this long-standing issue. However, proposals worth only Rs22.5 crore are under process and tenders for just two of the eight locations are ready to be issued. The lackadaisical attitude puts question marks on the administration's commitment to citizen safety. The root of the crisis lies in decades of poor coordination between different agencies. Roads under the Integrated Road Development Programme (IRDP) were laid without shifting electric poles, leaving them directly in the path of vehicles. Cement roads built by the state Public Works Department (PWD) and even NMC hired contractors followed the same flawed pattern. Civil Lines, Telangkhedi, and stretches from Zingabai Takli to Godhani are glaring examples of such criminal oversight, where motorists dodge past danger posed by poles standing bang in the middle of roads. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habit. Do You Do It? Memory Health Click Here Undo Now, amid mounting pressure, a joint survey by NMC's electrical department and MSEDCL ( Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited ) has been ordered to identify all such poles. The plan includes converting overhead conductors to underground cabling and shifting LT (low-tension) consumer cables to the road sides. The HT (high-tension) cables too will be laid underground in areas where possible. Yet, the urgency the issue demands seems to be missing. Even after the high court took suo motu cognizance in Jan 2021 and asked NMC and MSEDCL to submit a detailed report on such poles, progress remained painfully slow. The court, alarmed by the fatal consequences of this negligence, ordered immediate steps for shifting these poles and warned against bureaucratic lethargy. However, several projects moved ahead without addressing the obstruction, exposing citizens to continuous risk. "There is no dearth of funds, just a lack of accountability," says a senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We have had budgetary allocations for years, but unless there is real coordination between the electrical and civil wings, accidents will keep happening." Indeed, many of these poles, especially those on newly concretised roads, have turned into permanent hazards. Locals from Godhani Road say they've lost count of the number of two-wheeler crashes in the past two years. "We've even put reflectors on some poles," said Vijendra Kale, a resident of Suman Nagari, "but nothing moves unless there's a court rap." While tenders for eight locations have been processed, only two are on the cusp of being floated — a worrying sign considering the city has over 500 such poles, according to unofficial estimates. With the civic elections around the corner and political heat rising, citizens are demanding immediate on-ground action. "We are tired of announcements. Just remove the poles before another life is lost," said locals.
Hindustan Times
14-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
State bank guarantees reach record high of ₹62,569 crore in FY 2024-25
MUMBAI: With the highest ever bank guarantee of ₹62,569 crore in the financial year 2024-25 for loans taken by its own public sector undertakings and the interest on them, the total cumulative guarantee of the state stands at over ₹1.44 lakh crore. Experts and officials from the finance department claim that public sector units (PSUs) are forced to raise loans as a result of populist schemes like Ladki Bahin, and this could affect the government's credit ranking in the market. State bank guarantees reach record high of ₹ 62,569 crore in FY 2024-25 According to the documents tabled by the finance department in the legislative assembly on Friday, the government gave bank guarantees for loans of ₹62,569 crore in FY2024-25. One of these pertains to the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), a PSU that raised a loan of ₹35,469 crore in September 2024 to repay dues to Maharashtra transmission and power-generation companies such as the Rural Electrification Corporation Limited, Power Finance Corporation Limited and Hudco. The government also stood guarantee for ₹15,000 crore borrowed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation for land acquisition for the Virar-Alibaug Multimodal Corridor; ₹12,000 crore raised by MMRDA from the Rural Electrification Corporation Limited for implementation of infrastructure projects; and for a loan of ₹100 crore taken by the Shabari Tribal Development Corporation for social schemes for tribals. The PSUs were made to take the loans partly because of the government's failure to pay their dues. 'For instance, thousands of crores are owed to MSEDCL towards the cross-subsidy it gives to farmers,' said an official from the finance department. 'This has left it with no option but to take a loan—and this is all because of the financial burden on the exchequer because of populist schemes like Ladki Bahin.' The official said that the bank guarantees were nothing but indirect loans taken by the state government, which would add up to an estimated debt burden of ₹9.32 lakh crore in FY 2025-26. The official also said that the bank guarantee would affect the credit ranking of the government in the market. With the addition of ₹62,569 crore in FY 2024-25, the total amount arising out of bank guarantees given by the state government has mounted to ₹1.44 lakh crore. It was ₹81,507 crore in FY 2023-24 from ₹66,726 crore in FY 2022-23. 'The 2024-25 figures are the highest in the state's history,' said the official. Experts say that this is an alarming sign for the government. 'It is a known fact that ultimately the government ends up repaying the loans taken by PSUs,' said Rupesh Keer of Samarthan, an NGO that studies state finances. 'When the financial growth of a state is calculated, various factors, including GDP size, debt burden, job generation and industrial investment, are taken into consideration. The rising bank guarantees may have an adverse effect on the government's credit ranking.'
Time of India
14-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
57 Vidarbha villages among 63 from state vying for model solar village tag
1 2 3 4 Nagpur: As many as 63 villages across Maharashtra will be vying for the model solar village tag. The govt has launched the initiative to establish one model solar village in every district of the country under the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme. Notably, 57 of the 63 villages picked from Maharashtra belong to the Vidarbha region. The village that installs the highest solar energy capacity within six months will be declared the winner and will receive a grant of Rs1 crore from the central govt. The selected villages include 26 from Akola, 15 from Buldhana, nine from Wardha, six each from Parbhani and Bhandara, and one village from Gondia. Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd ( MSEDCL ) has already launched a solar village scheme aimed at making 100 villages in the state energy independent by adopting solar energy. So far, 14 villages have achieved this status. The central govt's model solar village competition is expected to give a further push to this mission. MSEDCL has been appointed as the nodal agency for implementing the scheme in Maharashtra. Villages with a population of at least 5,000 are eligible to participate. "Currently, villages were shortlisted from six districts, most of them from Vidarbha. Under the scheme, rooftop solar systems will be installed in homes through the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme, and public utilities such as streetlights and water supply schemes will be shifted to solar energy," a MSEDCL press release stated. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gentle Japanese hair growth method for men and women's scalp Hair's Rich Learn More Undo At the end of the contest period, the total installed solar capacity will be assessed, and one top-performing village from each district will receive a Rs 1 crore grant. "District-level committees were formed to coordinate the implementation and ensure smooth execution. These committees are responsible for selecting the villages and monitoring their progress during the competition," the press release added.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
In big districts, no takers for model solar village scheme
Nashik: The state power distribution company has failed to get even a single village in the state's major districts, known for industrial and trade development, to participate in the 'model solar village' programme under the PM Suryaghar scheme. Under the scheme, one village in every district is to be selected, with the expectation that the village will utilise solar power as a renewable energy source to generate the maximum energy required for its regular consumption. Villages generating excess power will receive rewards for development. People are expected to install rooftop solar panels on their homes. "We have 63 villages participating in the scheme, but they are from six districts only. Work has been completed in 14 villages. Efforts are on to find other villages in the same district or even other districts that can participate in the scheme and benefit from the 'almost free' energy for street lights, pumps for water supply, gram panchayat office, lighting in the homes and other requirements, thus making them self-reliant in power generation," said a senior MSEDCL officer from Mumbai. Regarding the failure to find such villages, the officer said a large number of villages were approached, but when it came to investment, they refused. "There are big villages that can afford the initial investment in the scheme and reap the benefits. But there are two different groups in some of the villages that are countering each other. Besides, there are other villages that cannot afford to invest, given that there is hardly any income the villages receive," said the officer. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Se você sofre com dores no joelho. Leia isso antes que seja deletado Vida Sem Dores Undo In bigger villages, multi-storey houses restricted the participation of the villagers in the scheme, and at the same time, the higher number of commercial establishments, either owned by the gram panchayat or by private entities, also affected the participation of these villages. Participation was from six districts: Parbhani, Akola, Bhandara, Buldhana, Wardha, and Gondia. In the cases of Nashik and Ahilyanagar, the officer said several villages expressed eagerness to join the scheme. Talks are going on with the locals with the help of officials, and they are hopeful of getting the villages on board for the scheme.
