HYDERABAD: The TS Transco is all set to supply 11,500 MW power required for the lift irrigation projects with an estimated cost of `10,000 crore every year. A detailed report on how would the Transco meet the power demand for lift irrigation schemes like Kaleshwaram, Palamuru-Rangareddy and other projects was submitted by Transco chairman and managing director D Prabhakar Rao to Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday. Prabhakar Rao informed the CM that the Transco will chip in the state government’s plans to provide irrigation water to one crore acres. The plans envisaged in the report will be implemented by 2020.
Chandrasekhar Rao said the whopping `10,000 crore required for the power bills for operating lift irrigation schemes would be funded by the state government. “By 2020, the State Budget will cross `2 lakh crore mark. We will spend `10,000 crore for lift irrigation projects and another `6,000 crore to `7,000 crore for free power supply to farmers,” the CM said on Friday.
First-of-its-kind
Irrigation department has decided to use 139 MW capacity pumps for Kaleshwaram project. Such a high capacity motor has never been used anywhere in the world till date, the department claims. The maximum capacity motor of 30 MW is currently being used in the state for Kalwakurthy lift irrigation scheme. However, in order to lift two tmc ft water from Kaleshwaram daily, the Irrigation department has ordered for 139 MW motors from Austria.
Another 139 MW capacity motor will be used near Ramadugu to lift water up to 120 metres at 3,200 cusecs water flow. Likewise, 134 MW capacity motor at Chandrapur, 124 MW motor at Medaram, 106 MW capacity motor at Tippapur have been ordered to lift 3,000 cusecs water to 100 metres height.
Solar rooftop power loses its sheen in open markets
Hyderabad: Once a fad, the solar rooftop power is now losing its sheen because of considerable decrease in power prices in open markets. Thus, the Union Power Ministry directed the States to reduce the target of solar rooftop programme. The solar rooftop was promoted in a big way by combined AP and also Telangana. But, the production cost would be `8 per unit and the domestic consumers cannot sell surplus power generated by them to Discoms at `8 or more per unit.
Because, the solar rates were dipped to `2.8 per unit in the recent past and the government was able to purchase power at `3 through open access. So, the roof-top solar consumers will render losses if they use it. At a recent meeting of ministers and union territories, Union minister of state for power, coal, new & Renewable Energy and Mines Piyush Goyal directed to reduce the target of solar rooftop programme. The Minutes of the meeting were uploaded on Friday which said, it is resolved to submit proposals for additional solar parks of 20,000 MW to meet the enhanced target of 40,000 MW under Solar Park Scheme