No dilution of seven hours power supply to farmers

Hyderabad, Oct 31 (UNI) Asserting that seven hours of power supply would be ensured to farmers to energise their pumpsets, at any cost, the Andhra Pradesh cabinet today decided to explain to the people that the previous TDP Government's 'misplaced priority' for gas-based Power plants was responsible for the present power shortage.

Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy exhorted his cabinet colleagues to persuade the farmers to go for early irrigated dry crop during the Rabi season so that harvesting could be done before March to avoid power cuts to the domestic sector and students at the time of examinations, Information Minister Mohd Ali Shabeer told reporters after a cabinet meet.

The state Government was able to convince four Independent Power Producers not not to claim fixed cost of Rs 1200 crore, he said.

The four gas-based power plants could generate only 550 Mw of power as the Gas Authority of India Limited as against the full capacity of 990 MW, he added.

The Congress Government has reviewed its priority and decided to encourage thermal power generation in the Public sector to improve power position in the next two years, he said.

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