With the general strike by activists seeking statehood for Telangana entering its 27th day on Sunday, the consequential power crisis deepened as the State reported a 50 per cent drop in hydel power generation.
The shortfall in power generation is put at 39 million units (MU) a day. The power distribution companies (Discoms) have been able to pool up 230 MU from different sources against a demand of 269 MU, leaving a gap of 39 MU.
The State, which plunged into a severe power crisis after thousands of Singareni Collieries employees joined the strike, now reports a drop of 50 per cent in hydel power generation. As against the average generation of 65 MU, it stands at 39 MU as on Sunday, a Government press release said.
The Chief Secretary, Mr Pankaj Dwivedi, held a review meeting to take stock of power situation in the State.
Consequent to fall in production at thermal and hydel power generation units, the State has imposed two-day power holiday to industries, while announcing power cuts that ranged up to 8 hours in some areas to cope with the situation.
“There was a dip of 3,500 MW ever since the strike began. Generation at NTPC Ramagundam was affected to an extent of 800 MW. An AP Genco unit (VTPS-5) is about to be shutdown due to coal shortage,” it said.
It, however, claimed that the State could manage the situation as Centre agreed to allocate more power to salvage the crisis. “We also placed orders to procure 150 MW from KPTCL Power,” it said.
Arrests
Meanwhile, several Telangana leaders were arrested at various places in the region on Sunday. Prof. Kodandaram, the Chairman of Telangana Joint Action Committee (Political), was arrested in Warangal district and was released later. The police arrested him and others at Pembarthy, preventing them to take a bus rally to Singareni mines to express solidarity with the striking employees.
In the evening, Mr N Kiran Kumar Reddy, the Chief Minister, held a meeting with some Ministers to review the overall situation.
Mr Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, Congress MP who is opposing bifurcation of the State, would meet Mr Pranab Mukherjee, Union Finance Minister, and who heads a Congress panel to study Telangana issue, in New Delhi on Sunday night.