Telangana Dy CM directs power officials to chart long-term energy plan
Hyderabad, June 27 (UNI) Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu emphasised the urgent need to prepare a comprehensive long-term electricity generation plan for Telangana, aligned with projected demand over the next two decades.
Chairing a high-level review meeting with senior officials from the power department and directors of GENCO at Praja Bhavan on Friday evening, the Deputy CM instructed officials to prioritise planning based on anticipated peak demands, including the 17,162 MW demand already recorded in March 2025.
He called for future-ready strategies to address the growing power needs of upcoming projects such as Future City, Musi River revitalisation, expanding industries, agriculture, and changing lifestyles.
Highlighting the state's commitment to welfare schemes, he pointed out that Telangana currently provides 24x7 free power to around 30 lakh agricultural pump sets, incurring an annual cost of Rs 12,500 crore, and free power up to 200 units for the poor, with an annual burden of nearly Rs 2,000 crore—likely to rise to Rs 3,000 crore soon.
To meet these growing financial and supply demands, the Deputy CM directed officials to scale up green energy initiatives, particularly solar power. He stressed the swift implementation of the Indira Saura Giri Jal Vikasam scheme, aimed at bringing 6.7 lakh acres of tribal land under cultivation using solar pump sets.
Regarding thermal energy, the Deputy CM urged officials to prepare plans for new thermal power stations in place of ageing facilities such as the Ramagundam and Kothagudem Thermal Power Stations, each with potential capacities of 800 MW. He noted the availability of 500 acres of land and coal resources in Kothagudem and emphasised the importance of modernising Telangana's thermal power infrastructure under GENCO's leadership.
Underscoring the importance of Telangana REDCO (Renewable Energy Development Corporation), Bhatti Vikramarka stated that it should become a national model in clean energy, assuring the government's full support in terms of manpower and resources. He also instructed directors to operate with autonomy and innovation while aligning with the government's vision for sustainable power development.
The Deputy CM called for daily reviews of electricity agreements signed with Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan and directed the installation of solar panels on homes built under the Gruha Jyoti and Indiramma housing schemes to promote household-level energy generation.
He also announced the formation of a joint coordination team between the Irrigation Department and GENCO to explore opportunities for floating solar power generation. The meeting was attended by Power Department Principal Secretary Naveen Mittal, TRANSCO CMD D Krishna Bhaskar, GENCO CMD Harish, REDCO VCMD Anila, and other key officials, an official statement said.
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