The proposed three-day rail roko announced by the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) has been postponed by a couple of days and will begin on October 12.
The earlier dates were October 9-11. The TJAC has threatened that the agitation would be severe this time. On the other hand, the State Government, which reviewed the situation with police and the south central railways, announced that they will provide more security and run trains in select routes.
Meanwhile, the State Governor, Mr E.S.L. Narasimhan, has rushed to New Delhi to meet the Prime Minister on what is being interpreted here as an update on the situation in the Telangana region, in particular, and the State, in general, consequent the general strike, which began on September 12.
Power situation
With the power situation continuing to be grim, the State Transmission Company (APTransco) has purchased 7 million units from power exchanges on a day ahead basis.
Around 650 MW power purchase has been tied up for October from inter and intra-State generators.
Against a demand of 258 MU per day, the State distribution companies are able to meet around 226 MU.
The shortfall is being managed by imposing power cuts to domestic sector and two day power holiday to industries and one hour supply restriction to agriculture, an official release said.
At the NTPC Ramagundam unit, about 800 MW of the total 2,600 MW has been shut.
One unit of 500 MW has been shut down on September 30 due to low coal receipts and another 200 MW unit due to boiler tube leak on October 4.
Coal supplies
In view of the continuing strike at the Singareni Collieries Company Ltd, the Government is trying to supplement coal by getting additional rakes from Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd and Western Coalfields Ltd. A total of one lakh tonnes is being imported
The Singareni Collieries, which produces 1.5 lakh tonnes per day, has been able to produce around 30,000 tonnes in the last few days.
A majority of its 66,000-strong workforce has been on strike since September 12, impacting coal supplies to a number of power stations.
This has translated into drop in power generation and subsequent power cuts ranging from four hours in Hyderabad to six-eight hours in most towns and rural areas in the last 10 days.
The Sakala Janula Samme (general strike), which entered the 26{+t}{+h} day continued with city buses off roads, power cuts and costs of commuting and vegetables and fruits going up.
Even the retail outlets are reporting lower footfalls, despite the festival season.
The joining in of employees of the State Excise Department and the State Beverages Corporation, which supplies liquor to wholesale and retailers in the last few days, has hit the State revenues.
Estimates of a loss of several crores daily are expected to hit the Government hard if it continues for long.