With the power situation turning critical, there seems to be no respite from dark days.
Power cuts are being imposed for domestic and agriculture connections. Industries, barring continuous process units, are already subjected to three days power holiday in a week.
It appears darker days are ahead unless there is remarkable improvement in the availability of power. The demand in APEPDCL limits (from Eluru to Srikakulam) has gone up from 38 million units in February to 45 to 46 million units per day this month.
“We are trying our level best to ensure efficient distribution of the available power.
Shortfall
Hydel generation has been nil since August as there is no rainfall in the catchment areas,” APEPDCL Director (Operations) H.Y. Dora told The Hindu on Saturday.
The present supply is 37 million units with a shortfall of eight to nine million units.
Thermal generation is normal with production of 4,500 MW, except due to interruptions on account of outages such as boiler leaks, maintenance work, and tripping. Power from gas has been cut down drastically from 4,000 MW on account of almost 50 per cent short-supply of gas.
Following a representation from the Federation of AP Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development D. Purandeswari has called for a high-level meeting here on March 17 to review the situation and take steps to ease the crisis.
Both the Ministers from the district – Ganta Srinivasa Rao and P. Balaraju – elected representatives from the area, and all officials concerned will be invited.
“We need some action to overcome the crisis. Otherwise, it will paralyse the industries as well as dampen the spirit of the investors,” Symbiosys Technologies CEO Naresh Kumar has said.
“The situation is turning worse for us to operate our units which we have started with hard earned money. Instead of power holidays on different days in a week, it is better to give us holidays continuously for seven or eight days and ensure uninterrupted power supply during the remaining period,” says Ramakrishna Narappareddy, president of the Visakha Autonagar Small Scale Industrialists' Welfare Association.
