Hyderabadis are in for darker days with the power situation set to worsen. An indication to this was given by district in-charge Minister J. Geetha Reddy, at the DRC meeting here on Wednesday. She said the present shortfall of 5 million units would increase to 9 million units during May. The present demand in the city was 25 million units.
Exam season woes
Almost all the legislators spoke about the severe and unscheduled power cuts when the examination season was on.
In many areas the power cuts coincided with the water supply timings putting, people to great difficulty. While not ensuring proper supply, the government had put an additional burden of Rs. 4,200 crore on the city dwellers with increased power charges, regretted Syed Aminul Hasan Jafri, Majlis MLC.
A dedicated power plant for the city
Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi sought a separate power plant for city. Without this all future projects of Hyderabad would be in jeopardy, he said.
He criticised the authorities for not arranging land for setting up sub-stations at Petlaburuj and Malakpet which would benefit a population of 10 lakh. In Petlaburj the money for the sub-station was sanctioned but police was denying land citing security reasons. Mr. Owaisi regretted that power was being supplied to Malakpet, Chandrayangutta and Bahadurpura Assembly constituencies from Ranga Reddy district where power cuts were even more serious.
Labour Minister D. Nagender asked APCPDCL officials to see that power was not supplied to the three city constituencies from Ranga Reddy district. He offered to resolve the land problem for the sub stations by speaking to the DGP.
G. Kishan Reddy (BJP) suggested tapping of solar energy. Ms. Geetha Reddy also agreed with this view but said the cost involved was prohibitive. It worked out to Rs. 1.2 lakh per kw.
