AP striving to provide US like uninterrupted power supply to industries

In a unique step for rapid industrialization with ultimate objective of achieving economic development and employment generation opportunities to youth, the Andhra Pradesh Energy Department was working out modalities for providing world class round-the-clock power supply to industries with HT feeders in addition to existing dedicated lines, for ensuring zero interruptions similar to power system adopted in United States of America.

“Though we have achieved top rank in India in providing 24 X 7 power supply and reduction of T & D Losses and record Plant Load Factor (PLF), we should not relax till the fruits of progress reached the common man. We should compete with Western countries like the USA where the power outage is extremely minimal i.e. less than three hours in an entire year (on an average half-a-minute a day,” said Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu.

During the interactions with top brass of energy sector in the context of forthcoming high-level review meeting to be conducted in a day or two at Vijayawada for finalizing the proposed time-bound action plan to ensure 100% interruption free and highest quality power supply to industries in initial phase, which will be extended to all categories of consumers, the Chief Minister said, “where ever I visited, the countries like China, Japan, Singapore and so on, the heads of the Governments, Multi National Companies evinced keen interest for making investments in AP and world famous proposed new capital of Amaravati in particular, mainly attracting to the credibility of Govt. and availability of 24X7 power supply.

The CM has directed, officials to work out modalities for ensuring zero power interruption by constructing the much more new Substations and laying alternate lines for the industries in addition to the dedicated Feeders in a time bound manner. Sri Ajay Jain after having a detailed review with K.Vijayanad, CMD/APTRANSCO & MD/APGENCO, K Ranganatham, Advisor, Energy, Dinesh Paruchuri, Director/Finance/APTRANSCO and CMDs of DISCOMs, R.Mutyala Raju & H.Y.Dora, desired time bound programme for 100% interruption free Power supply, in phased manner to all sectors.

During the meeting, Ajay Jain, Secretary (Energy, I&I, CRDA Dept), told the Chief Minister that the World Bank has given in principle clearance to provide huge assistance of Rs 3,200 crore to Andhra Pradesh Power Sector for Infrastructure development, besides Rs 750 crore for laying underground cabling system in Visakhapatnam City. Accordingly, a communication has been received from the World Bank Authorities to Chief Secretary I.Y.R. Krishna Rao in this regard. The Union government was also extending full support for infrastructure development both rural and urban areas by sanctioning Rs 1600 crore under Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY).

K. Vijayanand,MD/APGENCO& CMD/APTRANSCO, who has recently received the best bureaucrat national award, said the Union Power Ministry has requested the APGENCO to share the best practices of achieving the highest PLF of 80.71% surpassing the figure of 80.23%NTPC a Giant public sector undertaking. (NSS)