Telangana: Power bought, farms not ready for 24x7 trial
There are over 20 lakh power connections to the agriculture sector in the state, and about half of them have auto starters fixed.
Hyderabad: While the TSTransco has purchased an additional 425 MW power on a short term basis to supply it 24x7 to the agriculture sector in three districts on trial basis, it faces a rather unique problem in the form of auto starters.
While Medak, Nalgonda and Karimnagar districts will get 24x7 power on a pilot basis, it would be extended to other districts in a phased manner.
There are over 20 lakh power connections to the agriculture sector in the state, and about half of them have auto starters fixed.
Farmers had got these auto starters fixed spending between Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000 so that they need not worry about switching on their pumpsets when the power is supplied.
With such a huge number of auto starters in place, if the TSTransco supplies power 24x7 to the agriculture sector, the possibility of more power and water being wasted increases many fold.
In a recent review meeting, TSTransco officials informed Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao of this conundrum.
A senior energy department official said, “We told the CM that we are ready to supply power 24x7 to the agriculture sector, but the main problem were the auto starters.”
The official said the CM assured that he will get the auto starters removed if the TSTransco supplied power 24x7 to the agriculture sector.
TSTransco estimates it would require about 800 to 1,000 MW power for the agriculture sector this kharif season (up to September). Presently, the power demand per day is 141 MW.
As precautionary measure, TSTransco purchased 425 MW at the rate of '3.76 per unit for supplying it 24x7 to the agriculture sector in the three districts.
The additional power purchased by TSTransco is not yet scheduled, but the state has to utilise it by the end of July.