800 MW power deficit drives inevitable power cuts in Telangana, KCR eyes solar power

As summer sets in and power utilities signal a 4 to 6 inevitable hour power cuts, the Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has set out a campaign to appease both industrialists, farmers and domestic consumers that they will not be touched.

Many in political circles and power industry feel that KCR's game plan is targeted at the forthcoming GHMC polls. Everyone knows that though Telangana Government has surplus funds to buy power, it lacks connectivity to procure it from neighbors like Chattisgarh etc for wheeling the power across the border.

It now has indicated that there will be no power outages or holidays for the agriculture and industrial sectors as it is buying 5 million units of power daily from the Southern Power Exchange to overcome the shortfall, which is around 800 MW. The short fall is likely to touch up to 1000 MW in peak summers, says D. Prabhakara Rao, chairman of TSGenco and Transco.

He briefed Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao during a review of power situation on Thursday at the Secretariat that every effort is being made to plug the deficit, but admit that from March first week to May second week it could be a tough job. But KCR is particular that there should be no or less power cut as possible and asked the officials to get power from either Eastern grid or from Kayamkulam in Kerala. “Whatever the cost, agriculture and industry shall not be affected,” Mr Rao asserted.

Telengana will also lose the advantage of hydel power generation in view of the low water storage prospects in Nagagarjuna Sagar and also Srisailam. In his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Power Minister, KCR has urged them to help out Telangana during the summer crisis with power supply from Eastern Grid.

Now the focus is also back on solar power generation for which Telangana has projected a 1000 MW of solar energy and KCR has asked officials to speed up the bid process.