Andhra Pradesh is heading for a major power crisis in the next few months.
Making a statement on the floor of the State Legislative Assembly on behalf of Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, Information Minister Kanna Lakshmi Nayarana said that the demand for power has been growing with each passing day. On an average, APDISCOMS have supplied 245 MU against an average demand of 261 MU per day during the month of February. The demand from April 2011 to February this year was 81,320 MU against 71,301 MU for the corresponding period last year registering an increase of 14 per cent
The minister said that the demand for power this year has been very high due to continuous dry-spell in the State leading to increased demand from agriculture and domestic sectors. Energy deficit in the State during the current year is 6.2 per cent, as compared to all India average deficit of 8.1 per cent.
Lakshmi Narayana said that despite capacity addition of 5,311 MW in the State during last seven years, there is power deficit in the State. The power deficit is mainly on account of reduced production of gas in KG Basin. The nine gas-based projects with installed capacity of 2,772 MW are currently generating only around 1,500 MW. There is an idle capacity of around 1,272 MW (30 MU/day) due to reduced supply of gas.
Hydel generation this year so far has been only 5,837 MU against 7,048 MU last year. The total water availability in major reservoirs of Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar and Sileru is 90 TMC at present against 341 TMC last year thereby resulting in a deficit of around 1,195 MU. The additional hydel generation during the year is expected to be only around 887 MU as against 2,082 MU of hydel potential during last year.
The Minister said that the during the SCCL strike period in September and October 2011, additional 72 TMC of water was used in Srisailam and 11 TMC of water was used in Sileru to maintain satisfactory power supply, as thermal generation from NTPC and APGENCO stations came down, due to reduced coal supply.
Lakshmi Narayana said that the State has taken advance action to purchase power during the period from February to May 2012 and orders were placed outside the Southern Region for purchase of 1,387 MW of power in August 2011. However, due to severe transmission corridor constraint between North- East – West (NEW) Grid and Southern Region Grid, AP could get only 546 MW of power. In addition to the above, 734 MW is being procured from Southern Region. A total of 1,280 MW of power is being purchased from February to May 2012.
The Central Government has allocated additional 231 MW of power from NTPC Jhajjar Unit from October 2011 till May 2012.
The minister said that despite the above constraints, seven hours of free power supply to 29.84 lakh agriculture pumpusets was being ensured. Supply is also being ensured to drinking water schemes.
Lighting load supply from 6 pm to 6 am in all the rural and urban areas is being ensured. Load relief is being availed in towns and mandal headquarters during day time. Industries are being given load relief up to 30 per cent depending on power demand-supply gap. The above load relief is essential for safe and secure operation of the Grid. Industries are being given open access without cross subsidy surcharge to meet the power requirement.
The minister said that around 28,082 distribution transformers were being kept as rolling stock so as to replace the failed distribution transformers within 48 hours in rural area. High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS) has been implemented for 7.10 lakh pumpsets out of a total of 29.84 lakh pumpsets in the State. A scheme for taking up HVDS in 2.43 lakh pumpsets with a financial assistance of Rs 988.80 crore from JICA is being taken up from next year onwards.
A massive investment of around Rs 14,000 crore is being done in the transmission and distribution sectors over next four years to augment the transmission and distribution infrastructure.
The minister assured that despite all the constraints, the State Government was fully committed to protect the interest of all the sections of the society, particularly farmers by giving them quality and reliable seven hours free power supply. (INN)