Amid AP crisis, special team keeps watch on electricity grid

NEW DELHI: Amid anti-Telangana agitations impacting power supplies in Andhra Pradesh, the Union Power Ministry has set up a special team to monitor the functioning of electricity grid the state.

The agitation against carving out a separate Telangana state has affected as much as 4,000 MW of power generation in Andhra Pradesh, impacting various other services.

A special team at the National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC) is monitoring the functioning of the grid in the state. Besides, the Power Ministry is also monitoring the situation, said an official.

"At present, there is no threat to the grid. We are keeping a close watch and have taken all the necessary measures (for security of the grid)," the official told PTI.

NLDC has the mandate to ensure the integrated functioning of grids and among others, monitors the schedule and dispatch of electricity by various Regional Load Despatch Centres (RLDCs).

Andhra Pradesh is connected to the Southern grid. Sources said the Ministry is receiving updates about every two hours on the power situation in the state.

About 4,000 MW of power generation has been impacted due to the agitation but the plants of central generation utilities have not been affected, the official said.

At least four transmission lines tripped in the Southern region due to the ongoing agitations, according to the Southern Regional Load Despatch Centre (SRLDC).

As per SRLDC's status report till 0600 hours today, four lines were "tripped by AP agitators". These include 400 kV Cuddappa-Chittoor and 400/200 kV ICT-2 at Chittoor lines. All the lines have been restored.

Besides Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puduchery come under SRLDC.

Large parts of Coastal Andhra and Rayalseema continue to face power shortages with electricity employees striking against the decision to create a Telangana state.

Following massive power grids failures last year, the government has been keeping a close vigil on their functioning.

According to another official, there has been some impact on supply of power from plants in Andhra Pradesh to other parts of South India.

Central utility NTPC operates two power projects in the state -- 2,600 MW Ramagundam plant and 2,000 MW Simhadri plant.

The Ramagundam project is currently generating about 2,200 MW since one unit is under maintenance. The Simhadri plant is generating about 1,400 MW as it is facing coal shortages, the official said.

Meanwhile, the total installed generation capacity in Andhra Pradesh is more than 17,000 MW.