11,000 MW required for 24x7 scheme: CM

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday said that the power demand on account of 24x7 free power to the agriculture sector would increase to 11,000 MW, and the government had made arrangements to launch the scheme from the Rabi season in 2018.

Mr Rao said the trial run to supply power round the clock to 23 lakh pumpsets had started statewide on the night of November 6 and would be held for five to six days to assess demand.

Making a statement in the Assembly, Mr Rao said the state when it was formed had a deficit of 2,700 MW. The TRS government had added 7,981 MW, taking the total installed capacity to 14,555 MW.

“For the first time in history, 24-hour power is being supplied on experimental basis to 23 lakh agriculture pumpsets. Nowhere in the country has it happened before,” Mr Rao said.

The CM requested farmers to remove auto-starters for pumpsets since the government would provide 24x7 power. He said this was needed to save power and conserve groundwater.

He stated that the government had set itself a target of creating installed capacity of more than 28,000 MW to make TS power-surplus.

“The construction of power plants is going on for 13,752 MW. Lift irrigation projects require 8,500 MW. The new plants will help to meet future demand,” he said.

The construction of the 4,000 MW Yadadri ultra mega power plant had started. Another 1,880 MW would be available next year from power plants which are under construction at Manuguru and Kothagudem, Mr Rao said. The NTPC was constructing a 1,600-MW plant.