How 20 percent deficit is crisis? asks Ponnala

Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah caught the APTransco officials off-guard when he asked them how there could be such a severe power crisis for the farm sector when the shortage was only 20 percent.

At a review meeting, Lakshmaiah, who holds additional charge of power, pulled up the top officials of Transco for not ensuring adequate power supply to the farm sector.

Considering a deficit of 20 percent, the farm sector should be getting at least five-and-a-half hours (80 percent) of the promised seven hours of supply to them, he reasoned.

He wondered whether the free power meant for the farm sector was being diverted for the use of rich industrialists. The APTransco officials failed to give an explanation to him.