Telangana stir hits power supply in 3 states

NEW DELHI: The heat of the Telangana stir is being felt across the country with several states reeling under power shortage as coal miners go on strike in Singareni Collieries of Andhra Pradesh.

The strike has blocked coal supply to power plants leaving Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka virtually in darkness for hours. While there is an estimated shortfall of 7,000 to 10,000 MW in power generation in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra is suffering from reduced power supply of around 5,000 MW.

The power situation in the country has given BJP yet another weapon to target Congress and particularly Home Minister P Chidambaram.

"The misadventures of the home minister have resulted in yet another stalemate," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters. Her statement was referred to his assurance on formation of Telangana in 2009, a promise which the Centre is yet to fulfill. The Telangana agitation has disrupted life in the state.

She said 45,000 coal miners had struck work in Andhra Pradesh. Coal supplies have also stopped to power plants of the National Thermal Power Corporation. In Maharashtra, there are power cuts in most rural areas as well as Mumbai's suburbs and Navi Mumbai, leading to protests in the state.

Pointing out that both Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra were ruled by Congress governments, she said the power situation was because of lack of good governance. "I relate Mr LK Advani's yatra for good governance with this. All this is because of absence of good governance," she said.