Admitting that there was a huge gap between the demand and supply of power in the State, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday assured all sections that the government was taking all steps to tide over the power shortage in the State.
Briefing the media persons over the power situation in the State at the State Secretariat, Kiran Kumar Reddy said that the crisis have cropped up mainly due to dwindling water inflows in hydel dams and shortage of gas and coal supply to power generation plants. Stating that the state was producing 211 million units, he said however the demand for power per day stood at 260 million units taking the shortage to 48 million units per day. He said that the State was spending Rs 15 crore per day to purchase 28.6 million units from other States.
The Chief Minister has reminded that earlier the State Government used to purchase 16 million units. However, now the consumption has been doubled to 10 percent, he said. Stating that hydel units in State have been generating 63.3 units, he said that the coal and gas based plants were generating 70 million units.
Reiterating that the government was taking all steps for gasification of power plants by 2013, he said that the government was mounting pressure on Centre to get 500 MW of additional power. He said that the government was committed to seven hour power supply to farmers as a policy decision. The officials have been clearly instructed to ensure proper supply to farmers.
Kiran Kumar Reddy said that the government was also planning to give tax sops to those who produce power through solar and other alternative sources of energy. Stating that the government would launch awareness drives over saving of power in the state, he said that the government officials have been asked to save power by using power efficient systems.
Asking the political parties to understand the gravity of the situation, the Chief Minister appealed them to cooperate with the government till the situation improves.
–Agencies