The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) today urged Prime Minister Dr Manohmohan Singh to intervene in the gas diversion row and rescind the order of the Union Ministry. In letter to the Prime Minister, TDP chief and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alleged the decision of the Ministry of power to supply additional gas to Ratnagiri Plant in Maharashtra causing further reduction in gas availability to Andhra Pradesh was gross violation of the federal spirit and promotion of regional imbalance in meeting the power demands among the regions. It is pertinent to note that the Ratnagiri Plant is well connected to access RLNG having a dedicated terminal as against the dismal infrastructure and total underutilisation of capacity in Andhra Pradesh, Mr Naidu said the decision of Ministry of Power has further deepened the power crisis in the state and it is expected power cuts will experience more than 12 hours per day and industry will be shattered while the public life will come to standstill with the unprecendented shortage, he said. The acute power shortage in the state and the injustice done to the state was further compunding the crisis by allotting gas to maharahstra, he stated and added it was quite shocking that the power Ministry has directed to increase the power supply to Ratnagiri power plant from 2.7 MMSCMD to 7.6 MMSCMD imposing proportionate cuts to other states including Andhra Pradesh. Even prior the unjust decision, the gas plants were operating at less than 50 per cent PLF level and the four MMSCMD of power additionally is required to run the plants with 75 per cent PLF level and to meet the demand, the former chief Minister said. UNI
