Telangana: New line sought for power

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao informed Mr Raman Singh that TS has been facing acute shortage of power after bifurcation, and if the Chhattisgarh government agrees to supply another 1,000 MW, in addition to 1,000 MW for which an MoU has been entered into, it would enable the state government to overcome the power problem to some extent.

Mr Singh responded positively to his request. The modalities will be worked out after March 2015. Both the governments urged the Centre to set up a new radial transmission line as the existing line between the states would not be in a position to bear the additional load.

“I have written a letter to union energy minister Piyush Goyal requesting him to facilitate a new transmission grid for electricity supply to Telangana. Other transmission lines would also be used to supplying electricity to Telangana,” Mr Raman Singh said.

Mr Rao thanked Mr Singh for extending an helping hand to TS overcome the power crisis. “I had personally requested Dr Raman Singh for additional 1,000MW, to which he responded heartily,” Mr Rao said.

The MoU was signed by Mr S.K. Joshi, TS principal secretary, energy, and his Chhattisgarh counterpart.

Officials seek funds to buy power

Power officials urged the government to release funds immediately so that power purchase deals can be struck.

“Power is definitely a big problem for Telangana now. We need to purchase huge quantity of power for the two-three years till the new capacity is added in TS. The gap between demand and supply has been increasing sharply.

We are giving top priority for power sector than anything else in this Budget. We have to adjust the funds from other sectors to meet this demand,” said finance minister Etela Rajender.

The next priority will be given to irrigation, water grid project and welfare of SCs, STs, minorities and BCs. As Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was very particular about significant funds being allotted to these sections.