AP Govt to purchase power from other states

Hyderabad, Dec 22 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Energy Minister Mohd Ali Shabbir today said the government was trying to overcome the critical supply position by purchasing power from other states.

He said Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy had already sanctioned Rs 600 crore for the purchase of power and the shortage would soon be overcome.

Replying to a debate in the House on the power supply position in the Assembly this evening, Mr Shabbir said the shortage arose due to increase in the number of power connections to the agriculture pumpsets from 21 lakh in 2004 to 24 lakh this year.

The farmers had also switched over to five HP pumpsets from three HP motors. Besides the area under cultivation had also increased due to availability of ground water.

Unlike the TDP dispensation, the present government had installed 3,600 transformers during 2005-06 to overcome low voltage problem.

Besides,the farmer-friendly Congress government had waived power dues of farmers to the extent of Rs 1,200 crore apart from withdrawing cases against them.

The Minister also said a farmer would now be able to get a power connection by paying Rs 108.

Earlier, MLAs Julakanti Ranga Reddy CPI (M), Chada Venkata Reddy (CPI), Kishan Reddy (BJP) and Swarna Sudhakar (Congress) spoke on the statement made by the Minister.

While Mr Kishan Reddy wanted uninterrupted power supply to the farmers for nine hours to save the crops, Mr Ranga Reddy cautioned the Congress ''which came to power on the problem of supply of electricty would lose it on the same problem'' if it did not supply adequate electricity to the farmers.

Ms Swarna Sudhakar said the farmers would have to judiciously use the power to avoid wastage.

She also pointed out that street lights were burning even during day time in many places resulting in wastage.

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