The Hindu Business Line : Higher energy demand forces AP to step up hydel generation

Faced with an unprecedented 14 per cent surge in energy demand and increasing protests by the farming community for 7-hour supply, the State Government has decided to step up hydel power generation from the Srisailam project and seek about 500-MW from the Central pool.

With the rabi season now under way and with increased demand from the farm sector to support the seeding operations, the demand for power has surged. While the number of farmers dependent on borewells has also gone up, the power generation has come down by about 1,500 MW.

Over the last two days, farmers have been agitating and have gheraoed some power substations demanding increased power supply to save their farm operations.

Addressing a press conference here today, the State Energy Minister, Mr Mohd Ali Shabbir, along with the Major Irrigation Minister, Mr M. Ponnala Lakshamaiah, said efforts are being made to procure additional power from West Bengal and Calcutta Electricity Company and some other Central generating stations and from Kaiga nuclear plant.

Mr Shabbir Ai is planning to call on the Union Power Minister, Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde, in Delhi to impress upon him and the Ministry the need to allocate additional power from Central stations, including from the Kaiga nuclear power plant, to tide over the current piquant scenario in the State.

The State had earlier refrained from buying nuclear power due to the high cost. But given the current situation, it was decided to seek the option to augment additional power.

The State had earlier stopped hydel generation at the Srisailam plant to conserve water in the reservoir. But given the current situation, the State has decided to generate about 800 MW.

Providing insight into the current demand supply mismatch, the Energy Minister said this was due to inadequate gas supply which has resulted in about 1000 MW lying idle and tripping of about 1,000 MW at Simhadri power stations of NTPC.

The State is spending Rs 4.8 crore additionally per day to purchase power and is in the process of firming up additional supply of up to 550 MW from January 2007 from the Central pool.

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