'7 hr power supply for agri pumpsets'

Rajahmundry, Apr 12: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today promised to maintain seven-hour uninterrupted power supply for agriculture pumpsets.

Speaking to newsmen at the Madhurapudi Airport, about 15 kms from here, Dr Reddy said this will be done by imposing power cuts to domestic connections in both urban and rural areas.

Though the power supply position had improved in March due to rain fall, it was affected once again forcing the authorities to draw power from other areas.

Andhra Pradesh purchased Rs seven crore of power from other states everyday from other states to meet the shortage.

He also said 25 per cent of the farmers had fixed capacitors to agriculture pumpsets enabling them to save power to extent of 12 to 14 per cent.

Dr Reddy said the government was sorting out problems on the Gangavaram Fishing Port and Commercial Taxes Minister Konathala Ramakrishna was camping there to solve the oustees' problems.

On Babli, the Chief Minister said he had already spoken to Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh who promised to stop the work on the project immediately.

UNI