Date:25/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/25/stories/2006022501822100.htm

Back YSR promises seven-hour power supply to farmers

Our Bureau

Hyderabad , Feb. 24

The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, today assured seven hour power supply to the farm sector till the last acre of crop is saved while defending his decision to stick to March 31 deadline for fixing capacitors and power saving equipment.

Dr Reddy said that the power cut might even go up to three hours shortly as the demand for rabi crop is likely to extend up to middle of April. However, care would be taken to ensure that least disruption takes place.

The State cannot avoid night supply of power as the Tamil Nadu Government has offered to sell 300 MW of power only during nights. The situation got aggravated as the rabi crop sown in 28 lakh acres has increased the demand. This is also because the Government has decided to store water in two major reservoirs of Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar for drinking water requirement.

Earlier, the State Assembly was witness to uproar over the supply of power to the farm sector. While the Telugu Desam demanded that nine hours of supply be provided to the farmers to save the standing crop, the Chief Minister while rejecting this demand assured seven hours of supply even if it meant some more load shedding for domestic sector. Already, two hours power cut has been imposed.

The issue assumed importance with the Opposition parties raising issues relating to power cut, supply of power to farmers, and the March 31 deadline for capacitors and about 30 farmers dying due to short circuits due to supply of power during night.

The Government said APGenco was working augmenting additional capacity of 5000 MW.