Seemandhra: Power employees up the ante against AP division

HYDERABAD: Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions continued to reel under power crisis as electricity employees of the two areas stood on with their strike today against the Union Cabinet's decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.

The employees of the state power generation, transmission and distribution companies began an indefinite strike yesterday, which badly affected the power generation and supply situation in the two regions and also Hyderabad.

The strike has forced cancellation of several train services and also the ongoing 'Brahmotsavams' at Tirumala hills, the abode of Lord Venkateswara at Tirupati.

According to Power System Operation Corporation of Power Grid figures, as many as three transmission lines of 400 kv and another two lines of 400/220 kv were tripped due to the agitations in Seemandhra region.

The figures suggested that only 2,990 MW thermal power was produced as against the installed capacity of 6,090 MW yesterday. Similarly, power from the hydel generation stood at 1,694 MW against the installed capacity of 3,937 MW.

Several gas-based power plants are also not functioning due to gas shortage problems.

Senior electricity officials in Hyderabad would hold talks with the leaders of the striking employees today to resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, protests continued across the two regions by pro-united Andhra employees, who have been on strike since August 13.

The employees yesterday announced a fresh programme of agitations till October 20. They said they preferred to hold talks with the Chief Minister and not with others.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy would hold talks with the striking employees on October 9, according to P Ashok Babu, president of Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers (APNGOs) association.

The indefinite fast launched by YSR Congress president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy on Saturday last against the state bifurcation entered the third day.

TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu is scheduled to start his indefinite fast in Delhi today against the way the Centre set out to divide the state.