HYDERABAD: Hydel power generation of the State has crossed 60 million units a day, thanks to the floods in the Krishna.

Thermal stations, which were strained due to non-stop operation through the summer, have been backed down to the tune of 1,000 MW for the long overdue overhaul. For the present, sale of power to other States has been restricted to seven mu a day as high voltage transmission lines are available only on one route.

Huge surplus

Referring to the huge power surplus in the State, a senior official of AP Transco called the present situation as "a golden era" in hydel generation. A week ago, the Government, indeed, wanted to increase the duration of supply to agriculture sector to nine hours. But, it abandoned the move as it would draw flak in the event of reducing the duration when the load increases later. Moreover, water has to be conserved in the reservoirs to meet the energy needs for the rest of the year.

On August 1, hydel generation suddenly jumped to 59.4 mu as Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar powerhouses were operated continuously. Coupled with contributions by other stations like Sileru, the State's hydel output reached an all-time high of 63.59 mu on August 8 and is stable at around 61 mu.

Since then, the water pressure was such that on August 6, the output in Nagarjunasagar was 5 per cent higher than the installed capacity.

Generation

For the five-month period of the current fiscal, hydel stations have generated 3,080 mu of power, nearly half of the year's target of 7,575 mu. The reservoirs will still have a huge quantity of water post floods. APTransco can generate at least 3,000 mu additionally from hydel stations.

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