Two-day power holiday for industries in Telangana
HYDERABAD: The Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Limited (TSSPDCL) has declared a two-day power holiday for industries with effect from October 8. TSSPDCL officials cited increased demand for power from agriculture sector since the onset of Khariff season for the drastic measure.
Another power distribution company in Telangana, NPDCL, which covers Warangal, Khammam, Adilabad, Nizmabad and Karimnagar districts, has been implementing two-day power holiday for industries for the last one week.
Due to the delayed monsoon this year, farmers are forced to use more number of motor pumps to draw underground water, thus increasing the pressure on power distribution companies.
Faced with power deficit, the State government is purchasing power on a day-to-day basis from independent power producers and is forced to pay an exorbitant price for the same. On Sunday, it purchased 14 million units at `8.5 per unit.
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has given standing instructions to the officials concerned that power needs of the farm sector must be met at any cost.
As a result, power cuts, ranging from 6-12 hours, have been reimposed in the State capital as well as semi-urban and rural areas. As on Monday, of the energy requirement of 167.710 MU, only 149.141 MU could be supplied. In other words, there was a shortage of 774 MW.
This power shortage is having an adverse impact on micro, small and medium units in the industrial belt of Medak district ' they had been facing power crisis for the past two years and are said to be in no position to suffer more.
Some of them could either shut down operations or shift to other areas, sources said. However, officials neither confirmed it nor denied it but admitted that there was a problem.
Power shortage pegged at 774 mw
As on Monday, of the energy requirement of 167.710 million units, only 149.141 MU could be supplied. In other words, there was a shortage of 774 MW. Officials said there was no magic wand to bridge the gap between demand and supply immediately but said the situation will improve soon.
News Posted: 8 October, 2014
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