Shiv Sena protests outside MSEDCL office over frequent power cuts in Navi Mumbai

Shiv Sena workers held demonstrations outside Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd MSEDCL offices in Airoli and Belapur on Wednesday protesting against persistent electricity supply problems in parts of Navi Mumbai reported the PTIThe agitation was organised under the leadership of Thane MP Naresh Mhaske who said residents had been facing repeated power cuts and inadequate electricity infrastructure despite living in a planned urban centreAccording to a statement issued by Mhaskes office citizens in the Airoli and Belapur Assembly constituencies have been dealing with frequent power outages transformer breakdowns lowvoltage supply and delays in substation works the news agency reportedResidents including senior citizens women and children have reportedly been forced to endure long hours without electricity amid soaring temperaturesMhaske questions MSEDCL officialsSpeaking during the protest Mhaske said it was unacceptable for Navi Mumbai known for its modern infrastructure and planned development to continue facing such basic utility issues as per the PTIHe said the concerns of residents were directly raised with MSEDCL officials during the demonstrationsFollowing the protests MSEDCL officials assured the Shiv Sena delegation that immediate corrective measures would be takenOfficials said separate power cables for Navi Mumbai have been ordered from Nagpur and Sindhudurg while strict action would be taken against contractors responsible for delays or lapses The installation of new transformers will also be prioritised to improve power supply reliabilityMemorandum submittedShiv Sena workers submitted a memorandum outlining residents grievances and demanding timebound action to resolve the ongoing electricity problemsThe party said it would continue to monitor the situation until a lasting solution is implementedPower cuts diesel restrictions put Pune hospitals under pressureMeanwhile frequent power outages in Pune districtand restrictions on diesel supply in portable cans have placed several small and mediumsized private hospitals under severe strain The Indian Medical Association IMA Pune Branch has sought urgent intervention from the district administrationHospital representatives said repeated power cuts over the past few days have forced them to rely heavily on diesel generators to run critical servicesHowever many petrol pumps have reportedly refused to dispense diesel into cans due to regulatory restrictions making emergency fuel procurement difficult In a recent incident a private hospital conducting surgery nearly ran out of diesel for its backup generatorWhile doctors continued the procedure staff rushed to arrange fuel highlighting the risks posed by the situation Patient risk Essential services such as ICUs ventilators dialysis units and operation theatres require uninterrupted power Any delay in securing fuel during prolonged outages could affect patient carePune and surrounding areas have nearly 850 private hospitals with around 1800020000 beds including 20002500 ICU beds and 750800 ventilators While some large hospitals use CNG or PNGbased power systems most small and mediumsized facilities depend on Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited power supply and diesel generators during outageswith PTI inputs