Bhopal (PTI): Even as Madhya Pradesh continues to reel under a severe power crisis, it was returning around 200 Mega Watt (MW) power daily to New Delhi and Mumbai under "power banking".

"We took power from Delhi and Mumbai during last rabi season, and are returning it under power banking system," MPSEB Secretary P K Vaishya told PTI.

He said under this, the states take power during crisis from other states and return it as per the agreement.

"We had taken power from these two places between October 2008 and March 2009 and had to return it in April- May, but we sought some time and now we are giving back the electricity," Vaishya said.

"The MPSEB will continue returning power to Delhi and Mumbai till September," he said.

Madhya Pradesh is facing a severe power crisis, as the electricity shortage has jumped to over 1,500 MW during the peak hours and the situation was no good during the off peak hours as well, officials said.

The state's rural areas, tehsil, district and divisional headquarters were witnessing power cuts for 14 hours, 12, five and three hours daily respectively. Divisional headquarters here has been exempted from power cuts, they added.