A bandh in Seemandhra region, fast by Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy in Hyderabad, violence in some parts of the State marked the second day following the Union Cabinet’s decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.

Normal life was hampered in most of the 13 districts of the Seemandhra region for the second day. There were sporadic incidents of violence, burning of tyres, cutouts of some political leaders, and siege of homes of Congress leaders, especially Botcha Satyanarayana, the State Congress President, in Vizianagaram.

The agitation also affected power generation at the Vijayawada Thermal Station, rendering many areas powerless since Friday. Banks, commercial establishments and educational institutions remained closed.

In Hyderabad, President of the YSR Congress Party Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy began his indefinite fast at his residence in the Jubilee Hills area. Out of jail on bail, Jaganmohan Reddy, whose party is backing a united Andhra Pradesh, lashed out at both the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party leader N. Chandrababu Naidu, blaming them for the division and injustice.

Jaganmohan said his party would take legal recourse to challenge the division, while fighting to keep it intact and for the rights of the Seemandhra people.

On the other hand, TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu has decided to go on an indefinite fast from Monday in Delhi. He is expected to go to the Capital — with TDP leaders from Chittoor — on Sunday. The TDP chief is critical of the manner in which the Congress has decided to bifurcate the State without taking the people into confidence or addressing their concerns.

Telangana moves

Telangana Rastra Samithi chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao said there will not be any contract labour in the new State. The power sector has the maximum number of contract workers currently. “We will regularise everybody. Contract jobs are nothing but exploitation,” he said.

There would be on compromise on Hyderabad, he added. “We agreed for a joint capital status for just 10 years. There shall not be anything else to it, no powers attached or riders”, he said, while cautioning the people to rest only after the Telangana Bill is passed.

Union Cabinet Minister S. Jaipal Reddy, meanwhile, called for an amicable resolution of contentious issues such as river water sharing and the status of Hyderabad, which he felt can be sorted out across the table. The Group of Ministers, who have been given 6 weeks to frame the modalities, can address them and resolve the issue, he said.

Power supply disrupted

Power supply in several parts of Andhra Pradesh, particularly in the four districts in the Seemandhra region, was affected due to disruption in power generation due a stir by employees at major generating stations.

Supply was impacted in West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur and Prakasham districts from Friday as generation in the AP Genco’s Vijayawada Thermal Power Station and Rayalaseema Thermal Power Station were hit .

Due to the 48-hour stir called by unions, a section of employees did not turn up for work at both the power plants. This has resulted in loss of power generated — of about 1460 MW at VTPS and about 210 MW in RTPS — impacting supply in these districts.

In fact, of the 1760 MW APGenco plant at Vijayawada, barely 300 MW was operational. According to sources, the situation is expected to improve only when the employees report for work from Sunday .

If there is any further drop in generation and the demand goes up, it could potentially harm the Southern grid, a senior official in the State power department said.

Data from AP Transco show that while demand is now at 252 million units, about 241 mu is being supplied, leaving a gap of barely 11 mu.

>somasekhar.m@thehindu.co.in

>rishikumar.vundi@thehindu.co.in

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