The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, today asked the distribution companies to ensure seven-hour power supply to the farm sector.

Review meeting

Following a review meeting on the power sector, the Chief Minister wanted a monthly report of how the distribution transformers that have been damaged were being attended to. The Discoms were asked to deploy vehicles with geographical positioning system (GPS) by September 1, 2012 to ensure timely replacement of failed distribution transformers.

power ensured

AP Transco said that the power supply position is satisfactory and that seven hours of power to agriculture sector in two spells is being ensured.

In fact, small-scale industries, spinning mills, rice mills, poultry, cold storage, Government hospitals are among those exempted from power cuts.

However, major industries continue to face 30 per cent power cut.

The average demand in May 2012 was 262 million units a day against 227 mu/day during the same period last year, registering an increase of 15.41 per cent. Discoms are supplying 239 mu/day and the shortfall is 29 mu/day. The Government has negotiated a loan of Rs 988 crore under the Overseas Development Authority (ODA) and the tendering process is now underway.

GAS SHORTAGE

The total installed capacity of gas-based stations is 2,770 MW.

Due to drastic reduction in supply of gas from Reliance D-6 blocks, it has resulted in idle capacity of about 1,300 MW.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has indicated further reduction of gas from existing level which may further reduce the output of independent power producers. They are already operating at a critical level of 38 per cent.

>vrishi@thehindu.co.in

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