Telangana threatens to hit back over Andhra's electricity move

Hyderabad, June 18 (IANS) The Andhra Pradesh decision to cancel power purchase agreements (PPAs) has evoked a sharp reaction from Telangana, which Wednesday threatened to hit back in other sectors.

A minister from Telangana even indirectly threatened to cut electricity to houses of Andhra Pradesh chief minister, ministers, secretariat and assembly in Hyderabad, which is the common capital of the two states.

Irrigation Minister Harish Rao termed the decision of the Andhra Pradesh government unilateral and alleged that it is a violation of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.

He warned Andhra that people of Telangana can hit back in many other sectors and urged it to immediately withdraw its decision.

The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to take steps to ensure that electricity is consumed where it is generated. As part of this decision, it urged the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) to cancel PPAs signed by the then united state with the electricity distribution companies.

The move could add to the electricity shortage in power-deficit Telangana. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhara Rao Wednesday held a meeting with officials to review the situation created by the decision of the neighbouring state.

Harish Rao said the decision was ridiculous as the tariff was decided on the basis of the PPAs.

"Hyderabad is a common capital. Your secretariat and assembly have to function here. Don't you require electricity to your houses," Harish Rao asked the Andhra Pradesh government.

"If you go ahead with this, then people of Telangana may have to think of alternatives in many sectors," he said.

This decision by Andhra Pradesh is expected to make an additional 462 MW available to the state.

Andhra Pradesh was feeling aggrieved by the sharing of electricity between the two states following the bifurcation. As per an order issued last month, out of 8,924 MW, Telangana was allotted 53.89 percent electricity and Andhra Pradesh was allotted 46.11 percent. Andhra Pradesh is generating 518 MW more compared to Telangana.

In the undivided state, Telangana was getting 61.93 percent electricity to meet the needs of Hyderabad and the huge requirement for agriculture sector in the region.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government in Andhra Pradesh, however, was not happy with the revised share of electricity and it insisted that electricity generated in a state should meet the requirements of that state.

The row may strain the relations between the two Telugu states, which formally came into existence early this month. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government in Telangana is already up in arms against a central ordinance transferring to Andhra Pradesh about 200 villages, which are likely to be submerged due to the Polavaram irrigation project.