AP CM rules out privatisation of Power

Hyderabad, Oct 28 (UNI) Squarely blaming the previous TDP Government's 'misplaced thrust' on gas-based power plants responsible for the current power shortage, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today ruled out privatisation of Power distribution in the State.

Making a mid-term appraisal of his Government's performance, the Chief Minister pointed out that 1500 MW of gas-based power capacity was lying idle over the last six months for want of gas because of lack of foresight by the previous TDP Government. ''They(four gas-based units) have not been able to produce a single unit of power'', he added.

Dr Reddy said though his Government was able to bring down Rs 1200 crore burden on the public by successfully negotiating on fixed charges with independent private power producers(IPPs), it was able to procure only 500 MW of power after scouting from ''Kashmir to Kanniyakumari--leaving a shortage of 700 MW-- even purchasing power at a high Rs five per unit''.

''People are suffering and there is no escape from power shortage which is likely to continue for another two years,'' he added.

Though his Government had rescheduled the priorities of moving to thermal power, the Bhoopalapalli Unit was expected to be commissioned only after 30 months and the Vijayawada Thermal Power Station would be able to reach expanded capacity in 20 months, he said.

A small solace for the State was the commissioning of the 240 MW unit at the Rayalaseema Thermal Power station(RTPS) by December 2006 and the second RTPS unit of 240 MW, would go into production at Muddunur by March 2007, he added.

The Chief Minister said, his Government was, however, committed to provide uninterrupted supply to the farm sector and already chartered a work plan for the coming Rabi season.

He admitted the Rabi would be more difficult than the current Khariff for the farmers in the state. But he assured the farmers that they will cut supply for Industries, Commercial and Domestic sectors, if necessary, to ensure uninterrupted power for a record number of 2.4 million pumpsets which are fully in operation following good rains.

Asked if his Government would revive the previous TDP regime's move to privatise the distribution and transmission, Dr Reddy asserted that his Government had no intention to privatise the distribution of power in the State. ''We are for reforms but our focus is to strengthen the DISCOMs by improving their efficiency,'' he added.

The Chief Minister claimed that power utilities in Andhra Pradesh were the best and model one for the country and even CRISIL had given the State the highest rating over the last three years, after factoring the free power scheme of his Government.

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