The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : State heading for power crisis?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 15, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

State heading for power crisis?

By M. Malleswara Rao

HYDERABAD, DEC. 14. The State is heading for a power shortage in next three months due to the Government's restrictions on running hydel stations and an upswing in rabi demand.

The shortfall will be 600 MW in January and may reach a peak of 1,100 MW by March. Unless steps are taken to meet this shortfall, consumers may have to suffer power cuts. For saving 4 mu, a two-hour power cut is required. The demand by March is likely to touch 170 mu per day as against 130 mu nowadays.

Overhauling works

As an emergency measure, the Tranco has asked the Genco to complete the annual overhauling works of thermal stations by this month-end for inducting them into the grid immediately.

It has also been advised not to opt for any outage beyond 500 MW at any given point of time during the crisis period.

The State is eagerly awaiting its share of 150 MW out of the NTPC's 500-MW seventh unit at Ramagundam which is likely to begin commercial production soon.

Also, efforts are on to get the State's share of 120 MW out of the 500-MW sixth unit at Talcher.

Neyveli relief

The resumption at the Neyveli Lignite Corporation's unit which provides 320 MW to the State has come as a great relief. The unit was shut down recently following rain which affected lignite output.

Power generation has already suffered due to the Government's direction to the Genco not to deplete the Srisailam reservoir below 854 ft. Earlier, hydel units were operated till the water level reached 800 ft but the Government has decided to maintain a level of 854 ft to allow sufficient outflow to Rayalaseema.

Rabi demand

Added to this, Sileru has been shut off to conserve water for rabi in East and West Godavari districts.

Meanwhile, the demand is on rise with the onset of the rabi. Free power supply is adding to the woes as farmers are using pumpsets of higher capacity.

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Andhra Pradesh