Telangana: Tirumala Brahmotsavam cancelled

Hyderabad: Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions continued to reel under power crisis as electricity employees of the two areas stood on with their strike today against the Union Cabinet's decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.The employees of the state power generation, transmission and distribution companies began an indefinite strike yesterday, which badly affected the power generation and supply situation in the two regions and also Hyderabad.The strike has forced cancellation of several train services and also the ongoing 'Brahmotsavams' at Tirumala hills, the abode of Lord Venkateswara at Tirupati.According to Power System Operation Corporation of PowerGrid figures, as many as three transmission lines of 400 kv and another two lines of 400/220 kv were tripped due to the agitations in Seemandhra region. The figures suggested that only 2,990 MW thermal power was produced as against the installed capacity of 6,090 MW yesterday. Similarly, power from the hydel generation stood at 1,694 MW against the installed capacity of 3,937 MW. Several gas-based power plants are also not functioning due to gas shortage problems. Senior electricity officials in Hyderabad would hold talks with the leaders of the striking employees today to resolve the issue. Meanwhile, protests continued across the two regions by pro-united Andhra employees, who have been on strike since August 13. The employees yesterday announced a fresh programme of agitations till October 20. They said they preferred to hold talks with the Chief Minister and not with others.Meanwhile, the Cabinet sub-committee on employees issues held talks with the leaders of striking employees today. State Finance Minister A Ramanarayana Reddy told reporters that the Chief Minister would hold talks with the employees on Wednesday.He said the sub-committee has appealed to the employees to end their strike soon in public interest. The Chief Minister had yesterday asked employees of Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (APSPDCL) from the Seemadhra districts to call off the strike and resume duty considering the ongoing 'Brahmotsavams' at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD).The officials of the TTD held discussions with the electricity employees and power supply to Tirumala was restored subsequently. The CM had also appealed to the striking employees of TRANSCO, GENCO and DISCOMs to resume duties immediately. Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy would hold talks with the striking employees on October 9, according to P Ashok Babu, president of Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers (APNGOs) association.The indefinite fast launched by YSR Congress president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy on Saturday last against the state bifurcation entered the third day.