Nashik : A delegation of residents from Niphad taluka, led by former Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Anil Kadam, met Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited ( MSEDCL ) officials and demanded an immediate end to nighttime power outages, citing frequent leopard attacks on humans in the region.
Residents said they were under severe stress due to erratic power cuts, with load shedding regularly lasting three to five hours at a stretch during the night. Therefore, we demand that the power utility take immediate steps to prevent nighttime outages,” said Ramesh Mhaisdhune, a resident of Niphad taluka. “Night-time power cuts cause severe inconvenience, but the biggest fear is the presence of leopards in our area. Having electricity provides a basic sense of safety. The delegation met Nashik superintendent engineer Anil Thorat and submitted their demand.
“Because power demand was significantly higher than usual, the state was drawing additional power from the central grid. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Nashik | Silver Rate in Nashik | Bank Holidays in Nashik | Public Holidays in Nashik | Petrol Price in Nashik | Diesel Price in Nashik | CNG Price in Nashik | LPG Price in Nashik Stay updated with the latest Nashik news.
Darkness works to the advantage of leopards, leaving residents terrified of stepping outside,” Kadam said. Speaking to The Times of India (TOI), a senior MSEDCL officer said the situation was widespread across the state, with evening peak demand exceeding available power supply and necessitating Emergency Load Relief (ELR), or temporary load shedding. However, a deficit remained, forcing us to shed load across various pockets in the state,” the officer said. The officer said that under the feeder separation scheme, agricultural loads, including water pump connections, are generally separated from residential lines to maintain single-phase power supply to rural homes.
“Our area is known for leopard activity. Without power at night, it becomes dangerous for residents even to visit neighbors. During the festive season, people often return late from relatives’ homes. “However, in areas where feeder separation is incomplete, residential and agricultural lines remain linked, making those specific feeders targets for ELR. MSEDCL officials have noted the community’s concerns and are adjusting local schedules to minimize inconvenience,” the officer added. Download the TOI App.