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Gujarat Faces Power Outages, Factories Shut Before Diwali
Sentiment: NegativeHigh Priority
What Happened?
In Gujarat, power shortages have led to factory shutdowns ahead of Diwali, affecting industries in Surat and Rajkot. The state-owned power company has announced outages from 4 PM to midnight due to rising demand.
Key points
- Gujarat's power demand peaked at 29,822 MW on October 16, a 36.6% increase from last year.
- The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimates 2.5 million workers' livelihoods are at risk.
- Textile production losses are estimated at Rs 300 crore per week.
- The state government has not imposed such severe power cuts in 20 to 25 years.
- The Central Electricity Authority reported 96 of India's 191 coal-based plants are critically low on coal.
Key insights
- The textile industry may face increased financial strain due to production losses.
- Workers in Gujarat's industrial sector could face job insecurity as businesses struggle to meet demand.
- The government's response to this crisis may influence public perception ahead of upcoming elections.
Why it matters
The power outages could significantly impact Gujarat's economy, especially in the textile sector, during a crucial festive period.
Source
India Today
