Kolkata: 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 Oct 13, the day of Tritiya, minister of state for power Gargi Das Ghosh said on Monday.She also said state govt and power utilities were taking all necessary measures to ensure 24×7 uninterrupted and reliable power supply from Mahalaya on Oct 10 to Lakshmi Puja on Oct 25.“In the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (WBSEDCL) area, the number of community Durga Puja committees seeking temporary electricity connections is expected to rise to around 60,000 this year from nearly 57,000 last year,” the minister said after chairing a preparatory meeting with all agencies and companies directly or indirectly involved in electricity generation, transmission and distribution to ensure uninterrupted supply during Durga Puja.She attributed the expected rise partly to chief minister’s announcement of free electricity supply to puja pandals, which, she said, was likely to encourage around 3,000 additional community pujas this year.Last year, govt had provided an 80% discount on electricity connections to puja pandals, which cost around Rs 28 crore-Rs 30 crore to the state exchequer.CESC is also expecting an increase in the number of temporary power connections provided to Durga Puja committees this year. CESC MD (distribution) Vineet Sikka said the number was expected to rise by at least 100 from the 5,363 connections provided in Kolkata and adjoining areas in 2025.“CESC is fully prepared to provide 24×7 uninterrupted and reliable power supply during Durga Puja. We are in the process of purchasing additional power from the market to meet the demand. We are also notifying different authorities to avoid excavation till the Puja days are over,” Sikka said.CESC’s peak power demand is expected to touch 2,050 MW on Tritiya and subsequently decline, he said. During Durga Puja last year, the utility recorded its highest demand of 2,126 MW on Tritiya.Asked why he anticipated peak demand this year was lower than last year, Sikka said, “This year, Durga Puja will be celebrated late compared to 2025.”However, power demand in the WBSEDCL area is expected to touch 12,000 MW during the upcoming Durga Puja, significantly higher than the peak demand of just under 10,000 MW recorded during the festival last year.“An anticipated rise in the number of Durga Pujas by 3,000 will increase the demand. But we are fully prepared to meet the demand and apart from the state’s own generation and supply from the Central sectors like NTPC, DVC and NHPC, we will purchase 15% of our requirement directly from the market,” WBSEDCL CMD Santanu Basu said.West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd (WBPDCL) CMD PB Salim said that unlike previous years, the company would get its daily requirement of 70,000 tonnes of coal from its own captive mines and it would not have to depend on Coal India for fuel.
