In order to provide qualitative power supply to domestic, commercial and industrial consumers and to ensure seven-hour power supply to agriculture sector, the Govt/power utilities have initiated all possible measures for rapid infrastructure development in the power sector, which will also enhance the economical growth of the State.
Accordingly, the State government, with the support of Union Govt. will be implementing the prestigious projects of IDPS (Integrated Power Development Scheme) and DDUGJJY (Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyothi Yojana) at an estimated cost of Rs 700 crores, which aims at strengthening of networks in Urban areas and electrification of rural networks.
Ajay Jain, Secretary, Energy Dept., Govt. of A.P., while reviewing arrangements at a high-level meeting on development of power sector on April 6 with K. Vijayanand MD APGENCO & CMD APTRANSCO (FAC), K. Ranganathanan, Advisor/ Energy, H.Y. Dora and R. Muthyala Raju, CMDs of DISCOMS, said the objective of the Govt. was to provide better services to all consumers without any disparity. The utilities will be spending Rs 430 crore for taking up strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution networks, Metering of distribution/feeders/consumers in urban areas. Apart from these, strengthening of distribution network and IT enablement of distribution sector like establishment of online feeder monitoring systems and computerized 24×7 Customer Call Centers are going to be taken up under this scheme.
Messrs Power Finance Corporation (PFC), the nodal agency for IPDS has sanctioned Detailed Project Reports (DPR) furnished by the DISCOMs for a project cost of Rs.208.08cr in APSPDCL and for a project cost of Rs222.42 cr in APEPDCL, totaling for Rs.430.50 crores. Out of the above project cost, an amount of Rs.258.3 crores( I.e 60% amount) will be provided by the GoI as grant. The concerned DISCOMs shall fund just 10% of the cost and the remaining 30% is to be lended out from Financial institutions / Banks. The DPRs in respect of the remaining districts of the DISCOMs are expected to receive approval of PFC soon.
Giving equal priority for rural consumers also the power utilities are simultaneously going to spend Rs.330 Crores for implementation of DDUGJY scheme, which envisages electrification of rural villages and tribal hamlets. As a part of this scheme, separation of agriculture and non-agriculture feeders in the rural areas, Strengthening and augmentation of sub-transmission & distribution (ST&D) infrastructure, including metering at distribution transformers, feeders and consumers end are to be taken up. Electrification of 1031 un-electrified habitations and 6,83,501 rural households including 4,32,334 BPL are being taken up in this scheme.
K. Vijayanand, has directed the CMDs of DISCOMs to expedite the above programmes which will not only helps in improving energy efficiency & providing quality power. (NSS)