Blackout looms large on State
Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh has plunged into a severe power crisis with the Seemandhra electricity employees boycotting their duties at two thermal power generation centers, forcing the APTransco to impose unscheduled power cuts for long hours across the State.
As part of intensifying the anti-bifurcation stir, the Seemandhra Electricity Employees JAC also announced boycott of duties at Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar and Sileru hydel power generation units from Sunday. The JAC Chairman, Saibaba, said that the employees resolved not to attend their duties till the Centre rolls back its bifurcation decision.
The agitating employees did not attend to repair works at NTTPS (Narla Tatarao Thermal Power Station) in Vijayawada and RTPS (Rayalaseema Thermal Power Station) in Kadapa, thus affecting generation by 1,800 MW.
At NTTPS, six units with a capacity of 1,000 MW shut power generation since Friday afternoon. A technical snag developed in five units in the NTTPS is yet to be rectified.
The regular cleaning works like removal of ash and recycling of water used in the thermal project also came to a standstill.
APGenco officials said that among seven units, only one unit with a capacity of 200 MW is generating power as a majority of the employees are out on strike at NTTPS.
Power generation at RTPS was completely shut as operations came to a grinding halt in the morning. All the employees in the project boycotted their duties and joined united Andhra stir. The total in
stalled capacity of the power station was 1,100 MW.
Power generation at Sileru hydel station was also affected with the employees boycotting duties. The strike affected 150 MW generation. APTransco officials said that with the stoppage of power generation, the demand and supply gap increased.
With no option to meet the demand, unscheduled power cuts were being imposed in rural areas, towns and even cities.
In Hyderabad, power supply was cut off for about four to five hours in residential colonies. The CPDCL officials said that the unscheduled power outages will continue till the repair works are completed at NTTPS and RTPS.
News Posted: 6 October, 2013
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