The Energy Department has allayed apprehensions over possible power crisis in the new State of Telangana post-bifurcation.
Senior officials are of the view that power generation is comfortable at present and shortages are at the minimum. Any drastic change in the situation in the coming days is unlikely as the demand is expected to drop further.
“The situation will be comfortable as long as both the States adopt constructive cooperation. There will be trouble only if either of the States adopts one-upmanship,” a senior official told The Hindu . There is no truth in the concerns that Telangana will likely face acute power crisis as the AP Reorganisation Act provides for enough safeguards to ensure power supply to both the States. “There is no scope for any blackout. The situation will be completely under control as long as the two States cooperate with one another,” the official said.
Energy Department Special Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi said the power situation has improved and the utilities are in the comfort zone this year. There was a significant change in the power availability scenario when some sectors faced acute crisis for some weeks during the previous year, forcing the utilities to opt for restriction and control measures.
Mr. Joshi, who chaired the first meeting of the newly-incorporated Telangana Power Generation Corporation, said the meeting discussed the basic requirements that are needed to be put in place before the appointed day on June 2. Accordingly, the board adopted the budget for the current year and discussed certain procedural formalities.
Meanwhile, the Transmission Corporation has speeded up the bifurcation formalities and has completed allocation of headquarters’ staff to the two successor States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. According to the allocation, termed temporary by the utility, the Telangana unit has been given one Executive Director and five officers of Chief Engineer rank while Andhra Pradesh will have one Executive Director and nine CEs. Proportional allocation of Superintendent Engineers and Assistant Deputy and Assistant Executive Engineers has also been made for the two utilities.
