Describing the power supply situation in Telangana as grim, BJP National vice-president Bandaru Dattatreya on Sunday urged the Union government to initiate immediate steps to improve the supply and find solutions to the crisis situation.
Speaking to presspersons here, Mr. Dattatreya said he had spoken to Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal and sought immediate intervention of the Union government to ensure that the power allocations given from APGenco plants to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh States were honoured.
“I have requested the Union Power Minister to convene a meeting with the Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to settle the issue amicably and form a coordination committee to also look into issues that may come up in the future,” Mr. Dattatreya said.
The newly formed Telangana State was reeling under heavy power cuts which affected both agriculture and industrial sector apart from causing inconvenience to the domestic sector, the former Union Minister said while seeking allocation of total power generation of 2,600 MW from Ramagundam (NTPC) plant to Telangana as against the present share of 700 MW.
Mr. Dattatreya’s communication to Mr. Goyal also sought immediate commissioning of Nagarjunasagar Tail Pond and reversible pumps to meet peak loads and commissioning of Lower Jurala Hydel project to meet shortage of power during monsoon. He also wanted the Solar Energy Corporation of India to set up Solar Energy Park in Telangana.
The BJP leader requested AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to reconsider the ‘unilateral’ and ‘undemocratic’ initiatives to get the Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) cancelled. “I appeal to the governments of both States to sort out issues cordially through discussions and meetings,” Mr. Dattatreya added.
