YSR links free power time schedule to KG gas supply

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Hyderabad Sept 5: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy said that the government is willing to extend the time schedule for free agriculture power supply from 7 hours to 9 hours from next fiscal.

Announcing this in the State Assembly here on Friday, Reddy said that his government is more than happy to offer free power to the farmers but is constrained due to electricity shortage. "We are waiting for the natural gas supply from the KG basin," Reddy said. Once the gas power units get its due, the power position in the state would improve and it would be easy for the government to extend the time schedule for supply of free agriculture power, he added.

Explaining his government's initiatives on the power sector, Reddy said that AP Genco is moving towards 9000 MW company with recent initiative of 1600 MW near Krishnapatnam. Besides, the State will also get the 4000 MW mega ultra power unit located at the same place being set up by Anil Ambani group. With these initiatives, the State will transform as power surplus and will be in a position to offer free power to farmers for more hours, he said.

The State government is extending a subsidy of Rs 3,500 crore in the current year to the power sector, which includes Rs 1,800 crore towards purchase of power.