The Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to introduce a novel scheme of Meritorious Awards/Citations to be given away by the Chief Minister to the three best performing mandal level officers in each district in the categories of 100% Household Electrification; Achieving 0% Commercial losses and Ensuring 100% usage of LED bulbs.
In a teleconference with over 1,250 field officers of APDISCOMs, Ajay Jain, Principal Secretary Energy and Vice Chairman/APSECM, said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who has been monitoring the performance of power sector on a regular basis with an objective to render world class services to the consumers, directed the Energy Dept. to impart the latest global technologies across the world and enhance motivation level of field officers, which are the key factors for achieving the overall targets of State government, particularly for effective and sustained implementation of 24X7.
Recognizing the credibility of the State Govt./AP power utilities, the Centre, Rural Electrification Corporation (REC)/Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA) have sanctioned Rs 1,164 crore for High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS) projects and for Green energy corridor KFW (is a German government-owned development bank), REC has sanctioned Rs 1,130 crore and Rs 2,085 crore respectively, which will be a boon to the sector for strengthening the system and for providing qualitative services to the people.
Ajay Jain has instructed the officers to personally visit the villages once every week particularly between 6 pm and 10 pm (peak load time) to review the progress of household electrification works, usage of LED Bulbs and to interact with the consumers to elicit their views for improving the performance of the utilities. To achieve the target of “NIL” Commercial losses, the Govt. is examining the option of issuing one special increment to the best three officers in each District.
During the conference, Ajay Jain announced that the West Godavari district is the 1st district so far in the State to achieve the distinction of 100% household electrification and congratulated the District Collector and Superintending Engineer(SE)/Operation and directed the concerned all other SEs to issue a paper notification after completion of 100% household electrification to ascertain any leftover unelectrified households are there and ensure the electrification of the same within 15 days, before being declared officially. Random third party verification should be instituted in all Mandals before declaring the achievement of 100% objectives. (NSS)