Date:31/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/31/stories/2006103104610500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

State seeks power from Kaiga plant

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Faced with severe power shortage, Andhra Pradesh has sought its share of power (115 megawatts) from the Kaiga Atomic Power Plant in Karnataka.

The State also urged the Union Government to allow it to use 66 mw. of "unallocated" power from the plant in view of the precarious power position.

Gas scarcity

Power Minister Mohd. Ali Shabbir addressed a letter on Monday to Union Energy Minister S. K. Shinde, highlighting the reasons for the present shortage, including scarcity of gas in the face of a steep rise in demand.

He said responding to an earlier plea made by the State Government, the Central Electricity Authority, in fact, had recommended transfer of 115 mw. now used by Tamil Nadu, back to Andhra Pradesh but the Ministry was yet to act.

Out of the installed capacity available at Kaiga, 440 mw was allocated to the southern States under the original arrangement--115 mw for Andhra Pradesh, 108 mw for Karnataka, 105 for Tamil Nadu, 38 for Kerala and 8 mw for Pondicherry.