Authorities in the western Indian state of Maharashtra have announced tough measures to deal with a power crisis.

The state's 250,000 industries will now get power only five days a week and malls and government offices have been told to reduce energy consumption.


Scanty rains, growing demand for power and lack of new power plants has led to shortages in others parts of India too.

The southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are also reeling under severe power shortage.

In the last few days the two states have also announced a slew of measures to curb their energy use.