CM praises services of electricity employees

Hyderabad : Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao said that the Telangana State Electricity organisations have rendered remarkable services by pulling the state out of power crisis and now supplying 24 x 7 uninterrupted and quality power to all sectors.

The Chief Minister said when compared to other States in the country, the Telangana State was a step forward in generation, distribution and supply of power. He congratulated the electricity staff, employees and workers who could make this possible by working day in and day out wholeheartedly. He suggested that besides providing 24 x 7 hour uninterrupted free power supply to the farmers, from next year onwards for all the Lift Irrigation Schemes, Mission Bhagiratha and for the new industries perfect action plan should be made and implemented. He said the officers concerned should start preparing plans keeping in view the estimates and surge in demand for the Lift Irrigation Schemes and the new industries. He said that Telangana state got a good name due to the services rendered by the electricity employees and they should work with the same spirit and supply quality and uninterrupted power supply in future too.

KCR held a meeting with the Electricity officials here at Pragati Bhavan on Saturday. Minister for Energy Jagdeesh Reddy, Transco and Genco CMD D Prabhakar Rao, Government’s Chief Advisor Rajiv Sharma, Special Chief Secretary Ajay Mishra, DGP M Mahender Reddy, Transco JMD Srinivas Rao, SPDCL CMD Raghuma Reddy, NPDPCL CMD Gopal Rao, Directors of the four Institutions, CEs, SEs and others about 100 officials were present. The main discussion of the meeting is around supply of 24-hour quality and uninterrupted power to the farm sector from 1st January.

“New Lift Irrigation Schemes are coming up on Godavari. Besides major Lift Irrigation projects like Kaleswaram, Devadula, Sitarama projects, minor lift irrigation schemes Gudem, Sripada, Yellampally are also coming up. On Krishna, schemes like Dindi, Palamuru-Rangareddy are coming up. Based on this, prepare estimates on the demand for power supply. Besides the Lift Irrigation Schemes, power supply is also required for 1300 Pump Sets under Mission Bhagiratha. For Mission Bhagiratha and Lift Irrigation Schemes, there will be an additional demand for 10-12,000 MWs. For this required power should be procured and distribution and supply network should be strengthened,” the Chief Minister said.

“We have to provide uninterrupted power for 23 lakh pump sets in the state from January 1, 2018. There are unauthorised pump sets too. There will be more demand for pump sets during the summer. It is very important and prestigious for the government to supply 24-hour power supply. Take this matter into consideration,” the Chief Minister said.

“Divide power supply into five categories - Agriculture, Lift Irrigation, Mission Bhagiratha, Commercial, Domestic and Industrial. Treat these categories individually and prepare estimates on how much will be demand for each category. There will be substantial increase in demand for these five categories. Along with growth in the commercial and domestic categories, there will be a lot of increase in demand for agriculture and Lift Irrigation Schemes. With this there will be major changes in the power supply,” the Chief Minister explained.

“Several economists felt that it is not good to give more subsidy on power to the farming sector. But I did not agree with them. To give 24-hour free power supply to the farm sector the subsidy is increased from Rs 4,777 Crore to Rs 5,400 Crore. If need be, we are ready to give another Rs 500 crore. The government is also bearing Rs 10,000 Crore required for the Lift Irrigation Schemes. With the subsidies given to the farmers, agricultural produce worth lakhs of crores will be generated. Then it will change the farmer’s situation and which will also help the GDP,” the Chief Minister said.

The interacted with the CEs, SEs directly on existing demand and supply district-wise, the demand and supply in future and other related matters. The officials told CM that they are keeping the rolling stock of the transformers in all the old district head quarters and every substation has a transformer. Whenever a transformer breaks down another is replaced within 24 hours.

Working without sleep: CMD Prabhakar Rao

“Today is a very auspicious day for the Electricity organisations. Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao after becoming the Chief Minister held the first review meeting with the electricity organisations only. That day the Chief Minister gave us the guidelines. He wanted us to set right things in the state, which was then facing a power crisis. You gave recognition and importance to the electricity department which no other CM or state gave. This only helped us to achieve the results. Our staff and employees are working day and night to keep your aim to provide uninterrupted power supply in the State. Our employees are working without having proper sleep so that there will be uninterrupted power supply in the State. They are working 24x7 to realise the objective of yours to provide 24-hour supply to all the sectors. All our employees have the satisfaction that they worked under your leadership during the Telangana statehood movement and could realise the dream,” he said.

“Our employees are feeling that they have got a great opportunity to work with you to realise Bangaru Telangana. It is historic movement that you have held this meeting to prepare us ready to supply 24-hour power supply to the farm sector. We consider it a fortune and great opportunity to have your good self-reviewing this meeting. We hereby promise you that as per your instructions, suggestions and advice, we will be able to provide 24-hour power supply to all the sectors in the State. We have taken several measures to improve the power supply. Transformer failures have been reduced from 30 percent to 4 percent. Distribution and supply losses have been reduced from 18 percent to 16 percent. We have increased substantially the number of sub stations, transformers,” the Genco, Transco CMD Prabhakar Rao told the CM.

CM thanked the electricity employees

"We were very backward in the power sector when the state was formed. Now we are giving 24-hour power supply to all the sectors and from January 1 farmers will get the 24-hour power supply. This is not a simple matter but a great victory! I will congratulate all the electricity institutions employees, staff and workers. I congratulate each and every employee for toiling hard day and night to achieve this. The government will stand by you and will be liberal in giving you the promotions and other related issues,” the Chief Minister said.