Date:04/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/04/stories/2006020401961900.htm

Back AP to regularise 1 lakh farm power connections

Our Bureau

Hyderabad , Feb. 3

THE Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, today directed officials to ensure regularisation of agricultural power connections and ordered seven-hour supply to the sector during the ensuing rabi season.

Over a lakh farmers, who fall under this category, would benefit from this move and be treated on a par with the regular agriculture consumers.

The State Government has decided to legalise unauthorised power connections with a pre-condition of installing ISI marked accessories in their fields. Farmers are expected to affix capacitors, and good quality valves and pipes before March. Reviewing the power sector, Dr Reddy said this year, the power supply has shot up to 160 million units as against 128 million units last year, reflecting an increase of 15 per cent.

According to a press release from the Chief Minister's Office, Dr Reddy instructed the officials to accept the choice of the farmers in power supply pattern. The groups would be rotated weekly so that every farmer gets seven hours continuous supply alternative week. The officials said with this arrangement, about 300 MW of peak demand would be shifted from day-time to night enabling the system to meet the demand.

Project schedule: On Genco, the officials said the work in Rayalaseema TPP Stage -II (2x210 MW) is underway and the hydraulic test for unit-3 is scheduled on February 12.

While this unit is expected to be commissioned by August. unit-4 will be completed by November.

The works on Priyadarshini Jurala (6x39 MW) are at an advanced stage and the first unit is to be commissioned by March 2007, and balance five units at three months intervals thereafter. The last unit would be commissioned by July 2008.

While the Vijayawada TPS stage - IV (1x1500MW) would be commissioned by May 2008, Bhoopalapally TPS (1x500 mw) is programmed to commission by November 2008.

A special purpose vehicle is proposed to take up Krishnapatnam TPS and combined cycle gas power project near Hyderabad (2,100 MW).