Two thermal power stations at Vijayawada and Kadapa went into steam today as power employees in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh resumed work after calling off their indefinite strike “temporarily” in view of cyclonic storm Phailin.
The power employees were on an indefinite strike during the last five days against the Union Cabinet’s decision to create a separate Telangana state out of Andhra Pradesh. They have been demanding that the Centre withdraw the move to bifurcate the state.
Narla Tata Rao Thermal Power Station at Vijayawada and Rayalaseema Thermal Power Station at Kadapa, which have a combined generation capacity of 2,810 MW, resumed operations today.
Srisailam right bank hydro power house also resumed generation, adding 770 MW to the capacity.
“Power generation is back to normal since today morning as the employees resumed work,” Power Generation Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Ltd Chairman and Managing Director K. Vijayanand told PTI.
Official sources, however, said only 9,691 MW of power was being generated currently across the state against the earlier 11,000 MW.
“Generation is slowly picking up. It takes time for thermal (power) to come back fully,” a top official of a power utility said.
The gap in generation is expected to be filled in the next few hours when thermal stations get into full steam, he said.
Power cuts have almost been lifted, including in Hyderabad city, as distribution has also been restored in Seemandhra districts, the official added.
The strike has pushed 13 coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema districts into darkness, affecting the movement of trains and emergency services in hospitals, besides hampering power supply to Hyderabad city.