CM promises 24x7 power to farm section from Rabi season

Hyderabad : Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Wednesday announced that the Telangana has created new record of supplying quality power at free of cost for 24 hours to the Agriculture sector.

"For the first time in the history 24 hours power is being supplied from yesterday night on experimental basis to 23 Lakh agriculture pump sets in the state. Nowhere in the country it had happened before. This is good news to the farmers who faced power problems from decades together. The Power Utilities of the State will closely monitor the transmission and distribution network for 5 to 6 days and supply 24 hours uninterrupted power on permanent basis from coming Rabi season," the Chief Minister said while making a statement in Legislative Assembly today.

The Chief Minister informed that 25% of power in Telangana was being utilised by Agriculture pump sets. After formation of State within few days, 9 hours quality power is being supplied to all the pump sets. 24 hours power supply is being given to the farmers of old Medak, Karimnagar and Nalgonda districts from July, 2017. The necessary power that is needed is also being procured. Recently, when there was maximum demand of 9500 MW in the state, 198 million units of power was supplied without any interruption.I am happy to announce that the power corporations are ready to supply 11000 MW demand that is going to reach due to 24 hours power for Agriculture sector in ensuing Rabi season, he said.

KCR said on the day of formation of Telangana there was severe crisis in power sector. Due to power cuts people faced untold problems. The official power cuts were implemented daily for 2 to 4 hours in Hyderabad, 6 hours in other cities & towns and 9 hours in villages. There were 2 days power holidays in a week for industries. Due to shortage of power, industries were shut down on massive scale. The industrialists under the aegis of FICCI, CII started doing dharnas for power. At Indira park and in Vidyut Soudha protests were in continuity. The atmosphere to start an industry is not conducive in the State. Crops dried up due to non availability of power even for 2 to 3 hours to agriculture sector. Even though ground water is available this water could not be utilised due to non availability of power and the farming community stood aghast in dilemma when crops dried up. Due to extensive crop loss the farmers were financially bankrupt.

On the day of formation of Telangana, the installed power generation capacity in the state was 6,574 MW. In this Thermal capacity was 4,300 MW, Hydel Power was 2,081 MW. There was power deficit of 2700 MW at that time in Telangana State. The supply was not commensuratewith the demand. Due to the negligent attitude and due to lack of planning of erstwhile government there was absolute doom in all sectors. The power situation was in despair. There is a sea change in the power situation in the State now. I am happy to announce that as I am reading this statement, now the farmers of Telangana State are getting free 24 hours power supply to their agriculture pump sets, he said.

"From a gloomy situation to turn into resplendent Telangana many effortswere put in. As soon as Telangana state is formed, government gave utmost priority to uplift the state from power crisis. Short term, medium term and longterm planning was evolved and implemented. An action plan is developed to transform Telangana state into a powersurplus state with an investment about Rs. 94000 Cr. Government took steps to accelerate to pace of ongoing generation plant works. The construction of new plants was started. The transmission and distribution systems were strengthened," the Chief Minister said.

When Telangana state was formed, the installed capacity was 6574 MW. In the last 3 ½ years an additional 7981 MW commissioned including1200 MW through Singareni Power Plant, 600 MW through KTPP, 240 MW through Jurala, 90 MW through Pulichintala, 1000 MW from Chattisgarh, another 2000 MW from CGS and other generators. With an aim to enhance the green power production, new solar policy was announced in Telangana state. As a result of this, with about 2792 MW of solar power capacity, I feel proud to announce that Telangana state stood 1st in the entire country. Due to above efforts, the installed power generation capacity in Telangana state today is 14555 MW. The construction of new plants would add another 13752 MW of power.

In addition to 24 hours power supply to the agriculture sector, new Lift Irrigation projects require 8500 MW of power. To meet the demand of Lift Irrigation and new Industries that are going to be established in the State, new power plants construction is taken up. The construction of 4000 MW capacity Yadadri Ultra Mega Power Plant has started. 1880 MW of power will be available by next year through the power plants which are under construction at Manuguru and Kothagudem areas. 1600 MW power plant is under construction under aegis of NTPC. Government has fixed a target of establishing more than 28000 MW installed power generation capacity and to transform the Telangana state to power surplus state. For achieving complete transparency and to avoid delays, the construction of power plants was handed over to public sector unit BHEL.

Transmission and Distribution systems are strengthened with an investment of Rs.12136 Cr. On the day of formation of Telangana there were six 400 kV substations. Another five were newly constructed and now there are 11 substations. Plans were developed to construct another five 400 kV substations. There were 51 Nos.220 kV substations at the time of formation of State. Another 19 were newly constructed in the last 3 ½ years, and the total has reached 70 Nos. There were 176 Nos., 132 kV substations and 35 Nos., new substations were constructed later on taking their total to 211 Nos. There were 2181 Nos., 33 kV substations and 515 were newly constructed taking their strength to 2696. On the day of formation of Telangana, there were 2414 substations of all types, 574 substations were newly constructed and now total of 2988 substations are functioning.

In ensuing 3 to 4 years, to strengthen the transmission and distribution system, plans were made to construct 18 new 400 kV substations, 34Nos.,new 220 kV substations, 90 Nos.,new 132 kV substations, 937Nos., new 33/11 kV substations with an investment of Rs. 42000 Cr.

At the time of formation of the State, the length of 400 KV lines was about 1682 km. In the last 3 ½ years, another 1012 km of 400 KV lines were laid.And the length 220 kV lines was about 5559 km and in the last 3 ½ of years, another 1340 km lines were laid. Similarly 132 kV lines were about 9136 km and newly 1184 km lines were laid. The total High Tension lines at the time of state formation were 16378 km. After formation of Telangana 3537 km of EHT lines were laid. Today in Telangana state there are 19916 km High tension power lines.

The distribution lines were also increased on a massive scale. 33 kV lines were about 17760 km and additionally 4180 km lines were laid. 11 kV lines were about 120834 km and newly 25551 km lines were laid. LT lines were about 294374 km and newly 21302 km lines were laid. The total distribution lines were about 432968 km and newly 51033 km added to it and at present in Telangana 484001 km lines were functioning.

To ensure the supply in accordance with increasing demand the High Tension transformer capacity was increased from 12653 MW to 20660 MW.

Due to the initiatives taken by Telangana state new power lines connecting North and South grid was takenup by PGCIL. Wardha-Maheswaram via Dichpalli 765 KV double circuit lines construction was completed. 765 KVVarora-Warangal line will be completed in another 3 years. Through these lines Telangana state had signed an agreement with PGCIL to get 2000 MW of power.

To maintain uninterrupted supply to the twin cities, 400 KV ring system has been established around GHMC area by erecting 142 CKM of 400 KV lines inter linking the substations and building 6 Nos., of 220 KV substations around the city.

As an appreciation of the financial discipline and excellent functioning of Telangana state power corporations, the financial institutions like REC, PFC had reduced the interest rate on loans from 12% to 9.95%. With this every year there is reduction of 200 Cr. interest burden on power corporations.

In order to remove financial burden on Discoms, Telangana state had joined Uday Scheme. The Government has taken over Rs.8923 Cr. Loans of the State Discoms. With this the Discoms will be in a position to invest more in the strengthening the distribution network.

KCR informed that the per capita consumption has increased from 1200 units at the time of formation of State to 1505 units now i.e. increase of 26%. In 2016-17 Telangana per capita was more than national average of 1122 units by 383 units. This increase reflects the progress of Telangana state and improved livelihood of people of Telangana, the Chief Minister claimed.

"If power corporations are strengthened and power generation is done in public sector, many more subsidies can be extended to poor people of the state. This was the contemplation of the government from the beginning. Accordingly, today along with free 24 hours power supply to agriculture, subsidies were also given to the poor. The Government had allocated Rs.4777 crores in the budget for extending power subsidies to the poor," he said.

The Chief Minister requested the farmers to remove auto starters. "I am requesting you to remove auto starters not only to save power but also to conserve the ground water," he said.

"Government is taking action to strengthen the power corporations institutionally. 22550 outsourcing employees working in power corporations were paid salaries directly and were removed from the clutches of the contractors. Government has sanctioned 13357 new posts for Power Corporations. All the employees of Power Corporations have worked with dedication to improve power supply situation," the Chief Minister said.