Pune, September 11: MAHARASHTRA State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) chief engineer Rameshsinh Gautam on Tuesday said Ganesh mandals in the city will be supplied electricity at a concessional rate of Rs 2 per unit and a fixed charge of Rs 200 per connection during the forthcoming festive season. Otherwise the mandals will have to pay a security deposit and will be charged for electricity consumed as per the set norms.

Gautam was speaking at a meeting of representatives of the mandals who were told that they should ensure legal connections and help MSEDCL ensure trouble-free and uninterrupted supply of electricity during the Ganeshotsav. “A special one-window system had been introduced at all the divisions in the city to sanction connections to mandals,” he added.

Gautam further appealed to mandals to ensure purchase of electrical materials for lighting and other purposes from authorised suppliers, follow all safety conditions and measures, and ensure against any damage to MSEDCL power distribution network, especially the underground cables that are often damaged due to digging for erecting pandals.

MSEDCL chief engineer said that he had instructed his staff to take stringent action against illegal power connections, an act amounting to a non-bailable offense under the Electricity Act 2003.