Telangana to implement PFA from 2017-18

The tom-toming of AP being the 24x7 power state will soon be silenced when Telangana is added to the list of nonstop power supply states by the NDA. The Centre has agreed, in principle, to include the power-starved state of Telangana in the PFA (Power for All) scheme, which means 24x7 power supply to the state. Though the first phase is to begin by June this year, it will take two years to implement the scheme in its entirety.

Even Andhra Pradesh is implementing the PFA in a phased manner. Presently only a few select mandals, Municipalities and villages are given 24x7 power while for rest of the state there is no PFA. Incidentally both states have a power shortfall of 22 million units per annum since the bifurcation and are meeting the difference with purchase of power.

In a strong and passionate appeal, the state government had asked the Centre to supply uninterrupted power to tackle the problems arising out of bifurcation and had appealed to be included in the PFA (Power for All) scheme so that the new state could grow at a faster pace. State government sources said that the appeal has been accepted and in all likelihood, the state will get 24x7 supply from 2017-18, i.e. two years from now.

An 11-member committee headed by Jyothy Arora, additional secretary, Ministry of Power, met Telangana state officials in Hyderabad on Mondayand discussed some vital issues on PFA. The Chief Secretary Mr Rajiv Sharma has been directed to submit a Detailed Project Report (DPR) on its power requirements comprising of infrastructure and the future projects, the grid connectivity within a month, sources in the Secretariat said.