The Hindu Business Line : YSR promises 7-hour power supply to farms

The peak demand has shot up to 156 million units this year against last year's peak demand of 136 million units, reflecting that from about 6,680 MW last year, it has gone up to 7,871 MW this year.

Hyderabad , Feb.13

THE State Government is committed to seven hours of power supply to the farm sector consumers during the rabi season.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday ahead of the budget session, the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, said efforts have been made to ensure that the farm sector users, estimated at about 23 lakh, would get seven hours of power, in spite of the fact that the peak demand has shot up by about 16 per cent over last year.

The peak demand has shot up to 156 million units this year against last year's peak demand of 136 million units, reflecting that from about 6,680 MW last year, it has gone up to 7,871 MW this year.

The supply has been staggered, depending upon how the farmers would prefer. This could be either late night single time supply of seven hours, or supply of power in two phases during the day in one week or in different options in two different weeks.

Dr Reddy sought to clarify that there is no change in the Government's stand for supply of seven hour of power. However, if the farmers go in for capacitors, the savings, thus, brought about into the system can be better utilised for them.

With regards to some recent reports on major irrigation projects, Dr Reddy said that all precautions have been taken to ensure that the projects are implemented in a time bound manner, adhering to the stipulations laid down by the department.

On the Polavaram project, Dr Reddy said there is no proposal for a tail pond dam and called upon political parties to reason out the advantages of setting up such a project rather then stalling the project to gain some political mileage.

With regard to the major issues on which his Government came to power, Dr Reddy said, "We managed to waive about Rs 1,250 crore of power dues, and assured that the farm sector would have the advantage of new irrigation projects. Thus, we have invested Rs 6,357 crore in the sector this year alone. However, given the nature of these large projects, they sometimes run into issues relating to financials, administrative, political and even legal issues. The Government would ensure these come through at any cost."

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