With the power sector in Andhra Pradesh drawing up an investment plan of Rs 1 lakh crore, including Central government and World Bank funding in the next five years to ensure quality, reliable 24×7 uninterrupted power supply at affordable rates to the citizens by strengthening the generation and distribution sources and network, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed the officials to adopt a special plan that will throw open the doors for the State’s Power Sector to enter into a Golden Era.
“This Diwali would sure become the brightest Diwali with glittering colourful lights in the lives of AP electricity consumers with uninterrupted and quality power supply in each and every household. The Govt. is committed to sustain the lights of joy & happiness forever, said the Chief Minister while extending his warmest wishes on the eve of Diwali, the festival of lights, to the people of Andhra Pradesh and requested them to come together to celebrate a clean, eco-friendly, pollution-free & safe Diwali, as responsible and caring citizens”, he added.
To achieve rapid economic development, transform AP as best destination for investments and to protect the interests of even the future generations, the AP Govt has decided to make AP as Power Interruption Free State For Ever by achieving energy security in the state. To achieve this gigantic task, the Govt. has been aggressively implementing a comprehensive action plan with an estimated investment of over Rs.1,00,000 Crs (Rs.One Lakh Crore ) in power sector( both private & public) in the next 5 years , which would be a boon for the state economy and attract huge industrial investments as well as generation of employment.
The investments include Rs.11,000 Crs of AP Genco – Krishnapatnam (800MW) + VTPS (800 MW), Rs.20,000 Crs for thermal tech (1320 MW), Cemcorp etc in Nellore, Rs.30,000 Crs for Solar (2500 MW) & Wind (2500 MW), Rs.25,000 Crs for Transmission & Distribution projects, Rs. 15,000 Crs for Major infrastructure development.
Reviewing the overall performance of power sector in a teleconference, the Chief Minister said that “Thanks to Govt. Of India, which has included AP along with Rajasthan & Delhi for implementing prestigious 24X7 Power For All program in the first phase, several national & international agencies have evinced keen interest in making substantial investments in many areas like Infrastructure & Investments, Industries, Tourism, Agriculture etc.,. apart from Energy sector. In addition World Bank’s Rs. 9,000 crore support, the Govt of India through Power Finance Corporation & Rural Electrification Corporation is also extending full support for development of power sector in both rural and urban areas by sanctioning Rs.1,500/- Crores., [under Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) (Rs. 900 crores) and under Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) (Rs. 600 crores)], Out of which AP for the first time will get initially 75% as grant.
Under energy efficiency, the GoI has agreed to spend Rs .5,000 Crs for next five years and over Rs. 800 Crs for Solar parks as a 100% grant. With all these major developments in power sector AP state is sure to enter into a Golden era. Adopt special plan to further penetrate into the public for creating awareness about developments being undertaken by the power utilities and involve all the 1.5 Cr Consumers for better performance of power sector by utilizing Social media, said C.M
Disclosing these details, Ajay Jain, Prl. Secretary, Energy, I&I, CRDA Dept who has participated in the teleconference along with K.Vijayanand,CMD/APTRANSCO& MD/APGENCO, Dinesh Paruchuri, JMD (Finance), K. Ranganatham, Advisor, Energy Dept., HY Dora, CMD/ APSPDCL, MM Nayak, CMD/ APEPDCL, said the Govt. has directed to chalk out a time bound action plan that can be implemented right from the grass root level in the power utilities for making the Energy sector self sufficient in the long run by providing 100% interruption free Power supply by constructing the much more new Substations and laying alternate lines in addition to the dedicated Feeders in a time bound manner. To achieve this, SAIFI and SAIDI systems are being implemented.
To withstand cyclones, the AP power sector is implementing an action plan of Underground cabling in the state, and has taken up the works in Vizag at an approx. Cost of Rs 720 Crs with the support of World Bank. The AP state is leading in the country in meeting all the targets set by Ministry of Power, GoI like Power for all (PFA), 100% Household electrification, enhancement of generation capacity, promotion of new and Renewable Energy particularly solar parks and Energy Efficiency activities in a big way apart from entering into Agreement with Union Government on Uday Scheme etc. Under UDAY Scheme, the subscriptions to the Bonds issued by the State Govt. are encouraging and against a target of Rs.8256.01 Crs, an amount of Rs.7376 Crs has been subscribed with low interest rates, said .Jain.
.K.Vijayanand informed that as per the directions of GoAP to achieve single digit losses, APTRANSCO has achieved lowest transmission losses of 3% highest transmission availability of 99.9% and is striving hard to reduce the transmission losses to 2.25% by FY.2017-18.
Consumers are requested not to burn crackers near electricity infrastructure, said Ajay Jain and on behalf of Power Utilities, Wished all the stakeholders a Happy Diwali, while instructing the officials to gear up to tackle any power-related emergency during the festival season. (NSS)