AP Govt committed to 7 hours power supply to farmers

Hyderabad, Dec 29 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Government today decided to explore various options, including exerting pressure on the Centre to give the state unallocated power and to ensure that of farmers in the state get seven hours of power to energise their pumpsets.

''Even while stepping up hydel power generation, the Government is purchasing power from other states at a higher price to save farmers' crops,'' Revenue Minister D Prasada Rao told reporters at the Secretariat.

The Government would not hesitate to cut power supply to the urban conglomerates to save standing crops, he asserted.

''We are holding talks with the Centre on the unallocated power issue and are also working out the modalities to tap non-conventional energy,'' he explained.

Taking a cue from Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who had taken the initiative to save power in the secretariat and his camp office by installing power-saving lights and switching of electrical appliances when not required, the Government wanted all sections of people to avoid extravagant spending of power.

The previous TDP Government's thrust on gas-based power projects was responsible for the state not getting even 50 per cent of the gas supply from the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, he said, adding that the thermal projects would go on stream one by one from 2008.

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