Andhra Praesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Tuesday expressed his helplessness in providing a quick-fix solution to the power crisis in the State.
During a chat with industrialists at the Circuit House, he told them that the crisis would continue for some more time.
Sources said he also shot down a request by an industrialist for introduction of differential tariff based on performance of distribution companies and reduction in transmission and distribution (T&D) losses.
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Among others, Rushikonda IT Park Association president Vishnu Kumar Raju, Vizagpatanam Chamber of Commerce & Industry honorary secretary M.V. Narayana Rao, AP Film Chamber of Commerce joint secretary Vamsi Krishna, Hotel Varun Beach Novotel managing director Prabhu Kishore, Hotel Four Points by Sheraton resident manager P.C. Rao, Daspalla Hotel general manager S. Prashant were present.
The Chief Minister told them that the government would supply LNG if the industrialists were ready to pay an extra cost.
He said as against a demand of 260 to 270 million units, they were in a position to supply only 220 million units.
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Responding to a suggestion by CEO of Symbiosys Technologies to get the other Discoms to reduce their T&D losses to seven per cent, Mr. Reddy also admitted that reduction of T&D losses even by one per cent over two to three years was a Herculean task.
“Since it’s not possible to supply expensive power to LT consumers (below 75 HP), let them be spared from peak hour load restriction and exempt MSME consumers from fuel surcharge adjustment (FSA) and supply expensive power at Rs.9 to Rs.13 per unit to those HT consumers who are willing to pay,” said Visakha Autonagar Small-Scale Industrialists Welfare Association president Ramakrishnareddy Narappareddy.
RINL plea
Referring to the heavy penalty imposed by EPDCL on it for overdrawal during peak hour restriction period, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited Chairman-cum-Managing Director A.P. Choudhary and Director (Commercial) T.K. Chand asked the Chief Minister to intervene on their behalf with the Discoms not to impose restriction and control measures.
The Chief Minister promised to issue instructions in this regard and for waiver of penalty charges slapped on RINL, according to a spokesperson for RINL.