Pune: Baner-Balewadi residents fume over frequent power cuts in peak summer

Residents of Baner-Balewadi are expressing their frustration over frequent power cuts, which are leaving them without electricity for 2-3 hours daily during the peak summer season. The outages are primarily due to sub-par and old cables, as well as ongoing cable-laying works by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pune Metro in the area.

The two sub-stations supplying power to Baner-Balewadi, located in Hinjewadi and NCL, are struggling to meet the rising demands exacerbated by the summer heat, prompting increased usage of appliances such as air conditioners and coolers. “The increase in demand was predictable and should have been addressed earlier. Even if authorities get the land, the setting up of an additional sub-station will take another two years,” lamented a local resident, who also criticized the “shoddy work” by the authorities.

Another frustrated resident voiced his dissatisfaction with the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) for their lacklustre response to the community’s grievances. “In a meeting last week, officials said the problem will persist only for a few more days and the power cuts will ease once the monsoon arrives. They have a casual response to our problems,” he said, highlighting the frequent damage to cables every time roadworks occur.

He questioned why MSEDCL hasn’t ensured that cables are buried at sufficient depth and adequately protected to prevent damage during such works. 

A senior MSEDCL official mentioned that a proposal to establish an Extra High Voltage (EHV) sub-station for the Aundh-Baner-Balewadi area, which will cater to 1.2 lakh consumers, is underway. “Land for the project has been identified, and construction work will begin once it is leased. The construction is expected to take a year. Additionally, a proposal to re-lay cables in the area has been submitted,” the official stated.

The official further noted the increasing strain on the infrastructure, with the number of consumers in the area growing by almost 10,000 annually. “This summer, there was an extra 1.5 times load on the sub-stations compared to last year. We are trying to identify the problem areas and renovate them. As for cable damages due to Metro work, we have had 80 such cases over the past year. Our staff is working round-the-clock to address such issues,” he added.

Residents are hoping for swift action to alleviate the power outages, particularly as they face the peak of summer heat.