HYDERAAD: Power supply in the State suffered yet another setback on Saturday when a 500-MW unit of Talcher and a 200-MW unit at Ramagundam were taken out of service following technical snags. The closure of the two NTPC units has increased the shortage in the State by another 170 MW, that being the Andhra Pradesh share from them. As seven units of different thermal stations in the State have already been shut down resulting in a loss of 1,500 MW, the total shortage has now gone up to 1,670 MW. However, the AP Transco said it was meeting the demand, which was 163.7 million units on Friday, by imposing a cut in the urban areas and by overdrawing power from the southern grid. It ruled out increased generation at the hydel stations of Srisailam in order to preserve water for power generation during the next agricultural season.

The Transco said both Talcher and Ramagundam units were expected to resume generation on Sunday. Meanwhile, at a press conference, Energy Minister Minister Mohd. Ali Shabbir said it would be "responsibility" of the Government to save standing kharif crops to the last acre.

He said a continuous seven-hour supply was ensured to agriculture pumps now. This became possible because of the cut imposed in domestic sector in the urban areas wherever required.

If the duration of the supply fell short of seven hours due to interruptions, the loss would be compensated by supply additionally for that much time later. Also, supply would be even beyond seven hours continuously to save a drying-up crop but subject to verification of the crop condition by power engineer and agriculture officer.

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