The ongoing 23 day old sakala janula samme or the Telangana region general strike demanding a separate Telangana has landed the state into a major power crisis. In what could come as a partial relief to people during Dasara festivities, the state would be getting 1,000 MW from Eastern Grid and Haryana. With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself stepping in, the state is hoping to extricate itself from the acute power crisis to some extent after the Eastern Grid agreed to provide 800 MW.

While Eastern Grid would ensure 800 MW power from 11 pm to 6 am, Haryana would provide 200 MW power round-the-clock from its Jhajjar power plant. "At a time when the state is facing severe power shortage, this 1,000 MW power should be a big relief," a senior official said. CM Kiran Kumar Reddy spoke over phone with PM's principal secretary Pulok Chatterjee and sought help to tide over the power crisis. The CM explained the precarious situation at NTPC and other thermal plants in AP because of coal shortage due to the ongoing strike in Singareni Collieries.

Transco authorities said the government was trying out all options to see that the standing crops are saved and aam admi spared of blackouts during Dasara. “Our aim is to ensure power supply to the farm sector and domestic sector from 6 pm to 6 am without any unscheduled power cuts,” an official observed. Sources said the government has already sounded the Centre for an additional 500 MW unallocated from the central generation stations (CGS). The Centre has allocated 185 MW power so far and another 300 MW supply would be finalized later this week.