With the power crisis deepening further, Central Discom has increased the scheduled cuts across the state. While Hyderabad, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam and Warangal are facing three-hour power cuts, district headquarters are now facing five-hour power cuts. The town municipalities and mandal headquarters, meanwhile, saw six hours of cuts.
Moreover, 12-hour power cuts have started for the rural areas and the industrial sector will face three days power holidays along with peak hour restrictions. The increased cuts to the domestic and industrial sector are being imposed in order to ensure seven-hour power supply to the agricultural sector.
Faced by a severe shortage of coal and natural gas and below dead storage level reservoirs ensuring that 95 per cent of the hydel capacity remains idle, the power utilities are unable to meet the 255 MU demand in the state. The situation is likely to worsen further with the deficit touching 90 MU per day as compared to the current 40 MU per day power deficit. “Vigilance teams have been deputed by Transco to monitor load restrictions and ensuring seven-hour supply to the agricultural sector. Any deviation by the Discom field officers will be viewed seriously,” said Transco chairman and MD Hiralal Samariya.