Nine-Hour Power Supply To Farm Sector Assured

Hyderabad: The TRS government today reiterated its “unwavered commitment” to provide nine-hour power supply to agriculture from the next kharif season.
This assurance was made by Finance Minister Eatala Rajender while presenting the annual budget in the Telangana Assembly on Monday. The Finance Minister reminded that power shortage was the major problem at the time of formation of Telangana State. Power cuts to households, agriculture and cuts in the working hours of factories were common because of acute power shortage. The AP Government denied the due share of power to Telangana in violation of the AP Reorganization Act. The government took determined efforts to address the problem and ensured uninterrupted power supply to the industry and agriculture within nine months of the formation of Telangana State, he said, adding that there will never be any power cuts in the future.
Rejender said it was the endeavour of the Telangana government to achieve a power generating capacity of 23,912 MW within the next three years. The power projects taken up in the State include Lower Jurala, Pulichintala, Bhadradri Thermal Power Station, Kothagudem Thermal Power Station and Yadadri Thermal Power station with a combined generating capacity of 6,160 MW, he explained. He also informed that a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with BHEL for establishment of 6000 MW capacity thermal power plants at various places in the State on EPC basis. Since the formation of the State, 680 MW of power generation has been commissioned, he added.
The Finance Minister said apart from augmenting the generating capacity through conventional sources, plans have been drawn up for generating power through non-conventional sources. The Telangana Solar Power Policy 2015 has recently been announced with the main objective of harnessing the vast solar power potential in the State. Under the policy, solar parks are proposed to be developed with proper infrastructure facilities for developers. The Solar Policy Cell to be set up will undertake single window clearance for all solar power projects and the policy provides 100 percent refund of VAT on all inputs for a period of five years and also cent percent refund of Stamp Duty for land purchased for setting up solar plants. It has been targeted to added 5000 MW of solar power generation by the year 2017-18, he explained.
Rajender pointed out that as a result of the steps being taken by the government, including purchase of power to tide over the immediate crisis, power cuts are the thing of the past. A total financial closure amounting to Rs 91,500 crore has been achieved so far by TSGENCO, Singareni Collieries, NTPC and the solar power units. (NSS)