AP prepares plan to tide over power crisis
The Core Management Team will ensure close monitoring of coal stocks at thermal power plants and co-ordinate with thermal plants and State Government
Vijayawada: AP power utilities are hopeful that the power situation will improve by first week of May.
While putting in every possible effort to overcome the power shortage that was triggered due to coal shortage, on the advice of Energy Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, the State Energy Department has deployed a core management team exclusively to mitigate the current power shortage.
The Core Management Team will ensure close monitoring of coal stocks at thermal power plants and co-ordinate with thermal plants and State Government, a Genco official said.
He said Power shortage is not only confined to Andhra Pradesh, several States have already been facing power shortage. Several States have less than 2 to 5 days of rolling coal stock left on an average against the recommended guidelines that States have at least 24 days of coal stock.
Several thermal power plants across the country have sharply curbed power production due to shortage of coal availability and soaring global prices that have touched a record high.
During a review of power supply position over teleconference on Sunday, Ramachandra Reddy said that the government is committed to provide reliable power supply to consumers and free power to agriculture sector during day time.
The State Government has already released more than Rs 34,000 crore to support the power utilities during the last three years.
"I am confident that the government will overcome the power shortage situation in the State which is a temporary phenomenon and utilities provide sufficient power supply to all sectors in the state", said the Minister.
He asked the utilities to focus on power supply to agriculture and ensure that the standing crops are not affected. The policy of government is not even an acre should get affected due to the shortage of power supply. Even in this situation of power shortage, the government is providing seven hours power-day time power supply to agriculture. Farmers' welfare is most important for Jagan Mohan Reddy's Government, he said.
The Minister directed the power utilities to be on high alert as the temperatures are likely going to touch 44 to 46 degrees in coming four days.
Energy Secretary B Sreedhar asked the officials to make ready a proper plan to meet the expected rising demand as the State may enter peak power demand from May to October 2022 due to the summer and agriculture activity in kharif season.
