No significant increase in demand

Hyderabad: The nine hour power supply for farm sector has no takers as the farming activity in rabi season has almost come to an end even before the scheme has been launched from April.
There is no significant increase in power consumption by the farm sector as anticipated by the Discoms in the districts. Telangana TRANSCO officials said the power demand had increased only to 155 MU ( million units) from 150 MU after launching the free nine hour power scheme. Power was being supplied to a few standing crops cultivated under agricultural pumpsets.
The total number of pumpsets in the State is around 21 lakh, of which 11 lakhs comes under the purview of TSNPDCL (Northern Power Distribution Company Limited) covering Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Khammam , Nizamabad and Adilabad and power supply for another 10 lakh pumpsets is supplied by TSSPDCL ( Southern Power Distribution Company Limited) covering Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar, Medak, Ranga Reddy and Hyderabad districts. TSSPDCL Chairman and Managing Director G Raghuma Reddy told The Hans India that the demand for power for agricultural purpose under nine hour supply scheme increased by only 500 MW. Drastic decline in the farming activity, he said, was due to prevailing drought conditions and dried up borewells this rabi season. The TS GENCO is generating nearly 50 MU. Another 100 MU has been bought from CGS (Central Generating Stations) and from power projects in AP as part of power sharing agreement.
Power supply in two spells (six hours in one spell during the daytime and three hour supply during the night-time) has been implemented, the DISCOM officials said. The demand for power is high only in Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar, Khammam and Warangal where farmers took up dry crops.