Telangana officials turn to Chhattisgarh for power

Hyderabad: Two senior Telangana officials rushed to Chhattisgarh on Wednesday to finalise the purchase of 1000 MW power to partly overcome the shortfall in the state.

S.K. Joshi, the principal secretary (energy), and Transco CMD Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi, will hold talks with the Chhattisgarh government and energy officials to make short-term and long-term power purchase agreements.

The officials will also discuss laying of power lines, rates and other related issues.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao sent the officials on a war footing to overcome the current power shortfall in the state.

Mr Rao had recently told industrialists that the government was pursuing all options to ease the power situation, including immediate purchase of excess power from Chhattisgarh, to meet the domestic needs besides planning to ensure surplus power in the next three years.

In fact, the Chief Minister had planned to visit Chhattisgarh himself and meet his counterpart to discuss purchase of power.