Andhra seeks PM Modi’s intervention on energy crisis

Naveen S Garewal

Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, October 10

Andhra Pradesh is heading for an energy crisis with coal shortage and bad fiscal health of the power distribution companies. Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has sought the immediate intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi given the alarming situation.

In a letter to the prime minister, Jagan has voiced his concern and sought immediate remedial measures. The letter reads, “It has become increasingly difficult for the state to meet the energy demand and the situation was pushing it towards load shedding.”

He stated that given the state’s precarious financial situation, it was not able to purchase the required power from the open market as the purchase prices have also shot up with growing demand.

The state has requested Coal Ministry through the prime minister for the allotment of 20 coal rakes to thermal power stations in Andhra Pradesh. The chief minister also sought a revival of stranded and non-working pit head coal plants on an emergency basis regardless of the ongoing proceedings before the National Companies Law Tribunal.

This letter reads will save the coal transport time and quantity limitations in coal transportation to non-pit head coal plants.

“The deficit of nearly 500 MW from central generating stations due to plant maintenance can be bridged by reviving the plants at the earliest or the maintenance be postponed,” the chief minister wrote.

Chief Minister has told the PM that in the post-Covid era power demand in Andhra Pradesh increased by 15 per cent in the last six months and by 20 per cent in the last month. This coupled with the coal shortage is pushing the energy sector into turmoil, he said.

He also urged PM Modi to direct banks/lending institutions to provide working capital loans liberally to distribution companies till the crisis is tided over in order to make coal payments and undertake market purchases.

Andhra Pradesh is currently meeting power demand of about 185-190 million units per day.

The chief minister also said in his letter that more water was required in the current last stage of harvesting. If the power supply was to be denied, the fields would dry up causing yet another crisis.