Expressing concern at the alarming power situation and the harsh drought conditions across Telangana and especially its northern parts, where crop was affected severely, the Bharatiya Janata Party has urged the Centre to immediately allocate 500 MW of power, apart from declaring the entire State drought-hit.
In a letter to Power Minister Piyush Goyal, party MP Bandaru Dattatreya pointed out that the State was reeling under a serious power crisis that was leading to an increase in farmers’ suicides on the one hand and closure of several small-scale industries on the other. Against a demand of 6,800 MW, the State was able to garner only 4,400 MW by pooling resources and buying 1,000 MW more from outside, still leaving a net shortage of 1,000 MW.
In the National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd.’s Ramagundam unit, there was unallocated power of 385 MW, after a commissioned production of 2,400 MW and allocation of 2,255 MW to other States. There was an urgent need to allocate at least 200 MW to Telangana, he said. The Krishnapatnam power plant was still under trial run and it was imperative for 450 MW, 52 per cent of its commissioned production of 800 MW to be given to Telangana on priority, he stated.
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The party’s national executive member Dr. Nagam Janardhan Reddy, in a letter to Chief Minister, K. Chandrasekhar Rao, wanted all mandals in the new State to be declared drought-affected, and release of the associated assistance -- crop insurance and input subsidy. Drought, pest and disease attack had brought yields to barely between 30 and 40 per cent of normal.
Worst affected were Mahbubnagar, Medak and Nalgonda districts, he said, pointing out that farmers were not even able to recover cost of inputs. Erratic rainfall and long dry spells had wrought havoc, he said, explaining that dry spells in June and again in August had led to withering of seedlings and later stunted growth. In the absence of bank loans and unable to afford high interest rates from private money-lenders, farmers had to sell their cattle for sustenance, Dr. Reddy said.