Hyderabad: Unscheduled power cuts worry industries as units seek long-term solutions

Unscheduled power cuts are worrying small and medium-scale industries around Hyderabad, with disruptions threatening production and raising operating costs. Industrialists say diesel generators are expensive to reinstall and run, and are urging the State government to promote rooftop solar power.

Hyderabad: Unscheduled power cuts have raised concerns among industrial units, particularly small and medium-scale enterprises, in and around Hyderabad. With disruptions being reported in October, industrialists are worried about the challenges ahead, especially during summer.

The Congress government has appealed to farmers to defer cultivation during the Yasangi season. However, industrialists say they cannot afford to suspend operations or defer production, unlike farmers who can postpone cultivation.

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Several industrial associations operate in Hyderabad’s industrial hubs, including Cherlapally, Nacharam, Mallapur, Uppal, Jeedimetla, Balanagar and Patancheru. Though no official count is available, an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 small and medium-scale industrial units operate in and around the city.

Power disruptions lasting even 30 minutes can significantly affect production in many processing units. It takes nearly three hours to restore normal operations as machinery, boilers and other equipment need time to return to working conditions. Employees remain idle during this period, resulting in production losses.

Arranging an alternative power supply is another major challenge for industrial managements. With power supply remaining stable over the past decade, many units have discarded their diesel-operated generators. Re-establishing generator infrastructure now would require an investment of Rs.15 lakh to Rs.20 lakh, depending on the size of the unit, said a member of the Balanagar Micro Unit Association.

Even after making this investment, operating generators would not be financially viable, he said. The cost of power generated through diesel-operated generators could reach Rs.15 per unit, compared with the existing cost of Rs.8 per unit.

Industrial associations are holding internal meetings to discuss the emerging challenges and possible measures to address them. While generators could serve as an alternative for two to three months, sustaining their use for eight to 10 months would be unaffordable, said a member of the Cherlapally Industries Association.

Industrialists are urging the State government to formulate a long-term strategy, including the promotion of rooftop solar power generation. They want a dedicated policy supported by subsidies and other incentives to encourage industries to establish solar power units.

Telangana Industrialists Federation president K Sudheer Reddy said the federation was planning to convene a meeting with representatives of various industrial associations by the end of this month to discuss the issues.

“The issues will subsequently be taken up with the State government,” he said, expressing hope that the government would take appropriate measures to address the concerns of industrial units.