The State government had spent as much as ₹ 1,100 crore to improve the quality of power supply. This has checked the failure of motors, thereby reducing the burden on farmers, who are getting quality power in two spells.
While the budget allotted for the combined Medak district in 2013-14 stood at ₹ 120 crore, it increased to ₹ 340 crore in 2014-15, ₹ 800 crore in 2015-16 and ₹ 1,100 crore in 2016-17.
For extending quality power, authorities have started setting up sub-stations and extended power lines on a warfooting. For instance, the number of new sub-stations erected during 2013-14 stood at six whereas the number increased to 16 in 2014-15, 45 in 2015-16 and 55 in 2016-17.
While only 10 kilometres of 33 K.V. power lines were erected in 2013-14, it increased to 30 km the following year and 150 kim in 2015-16 and another 150 km in the present year. It would cost about ₹ 30 lakh for laying each kilometre of 33 KV line.
In a move to address the problems being faced by farmers, as many as 70 additional transformers were kept ready.
The number in 2013-14 was only five. Similarly the number of new agriculture connections has increased from 3,000 in 2013-14 to 8,000 in 2014-15, 12,000 in 2015-16 and 15,000 in 2016-17.
New connections
The authorities have made serious efforts in clearing the pending applications for power connections by farmers to such a stage that presently only 80 applications are pending, from as much as 15,000 in 2013-14.
“With the power supply system being strengthened and quality power available, the power consumption has increased considerably. Presently 2.3 crore units of power are being used in Sangareddy, Siddipet and Medak districts whereas it was 1.4 crore units in 2013-14, 1.9 crore units in 2014-15 and 2.1 crore units in 2016-17,” said Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao during a visit to the district recently.
