Pimpri Chinchwad: Citizens Call for Action After 15-Hour Outage in Dighi Area
Reported By Amit Singh
Dighi, 29th April 2025: Residents of Dighi and nearby suburbs are facing acute hardship due to frequent and prolonged power cuts, particularly distressing in the midst of the scorching summer. The area experienced a 14-hour outage on April 15, and another power cut began at 8:30 pm on April 28, lasting 15 hours.
Despite repeated complaints and follow-ups, citizens report minimal resolution from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) officials. Vikas Dolas, former corporator, stated that he contacted multiple engineers, including junior, deputy, executive, and superintendent engineers, but found their responses unsatisfactory. Only after reaching newly appointed Pune Zone Chief Engineer Sunil Kakade did senior officials begin to respond.
Dolas reiterated the urgent need for a substation in Dighi, a demand pending for years. He noted that a proposal was submitted two years ago to the then chief engineer Rajendra Pawar, and he plans to meet Sunil Kakade in the coming days for follow-up.
Social worker Ravindra Chavan echoed similar concerns, saying he submitted a representation to the Bhosari Division Executive Engineer. He was informed that the substation project was pending due to a lack of DRG (detailed project drawings). Chavan added that the demand for a substation dates back over a decade and has yet to be implemented.
Local residents expressed frustration, alleging daily outages and load shedding. Some demanded strict accountability from MSEDCL, including salary cuts for officials in areas with frequent outages. “This has been going on for a long time. Now it has become too much,” said one resident.
The community continues to demand a permanent solution, highlighting the rising toll of power disruptions during peak summer.
