K Chandrasekhar Rao to visit Chhattisgarh for power

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, will visit Chattisgarh and meet his counterpart Mr Raman Singh to explore the possibility of purchasing power to overcome shortage in Telangana.

Mr Rao said that power crisis in Telangana is the result of “intentional mischief” by Andhra Pradesh Genco. Mr Rao is expected to visit Chattisgarh in a day or two to hold parleys. Mr Rao has asked power department officials to look at the option of purchasing power even from neighbouring states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Mr Rao, who holds the power portfolio, expressed grave concern over the power situation in Telangana at the Secretariat on Thursday. The meeting was attended by senior officials, to take stock of the situation. He also asked officials to work on a tie-up with coal-rich Chhattisgarh for supply of coal reserves to generate power.

He also told officials to look at setting up power transmission lines from Chattisgarh to Telangana via Wardha in Maharashtra. He said Dichpally in Nizamabad is near Wardha and transmission lines can be set up to bring power to Telangana.

Mr Rao asked officials to draw up short-term and long-term plans to overcome power deficiency in the state. As a short-term measure, he told officials to purchase power even from private power generating agencies.

Chief Secretary, Dr Rajeev Sharma, Principal Secretary to CM, Mr N. Narsing Rao and Principal Secretary, Energy, Mr Suresh Chanda were present at the meeting.