AP Govt to invest Rs.22,600 Cr for energy infrastructure sector

Recognizing power sector as the primary factor and growth engine for achieving the double digit growth rate in Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has emphasised the need to release all pending 6,925 industrial connections aggregating to the load of 600 MW for encouraging industrial promotion in the state.

Apart from this, the Chief Minster is very keen to take immediate steps for release of 66,000 Agricultural connections and electrification of all remaining un-electrified households to the extent of 516,735 by the end of March 2016.

The State Government, in tune with the objective of the Chief Minister, has decided to make investment of Rs.22,600 Crores in various sectors of Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation in the year 2015-16. They include Rs 1500 crore for Generation (Conventional); Rs 4,000 crore for Transmission; Rs 4,000 crore for Distribution; Rs 8,400 crore for Renewable; Rs 200 crore Solar Pumpsets; Rs 2000 crore for Solar Parks; Rs 2,000 crore for Solar Distribution and Rs 500 for Energy Conservation.

Disclosing the above major developments, I.Y.R.Krihna Rao, Chief Secretary and Chairman SECM, during a high level meeting with Dept's of Finance, Planning and Energy, I&I at the State Secretariat about the issues, progress of the works and action plan to be adopted for realizing double digit growth for FY 2015-16, said that availability of quality & uninterrupted power plays a major role in achieving overall development of the state and directed the power utilities that no single household shall be left without electrification by March 2016.

The High level meeting was chaired by the Chief Secretary and participated by SP Tucker, Special CS/Planning, Ajay Kallam, Special CS/Finance, Satish Chandra, Prl. Secretary to CM, Ajay Jain, Secretary (Energy, I&I), K. Vijayanand, CMD/APTRANSCO/APGENCO and HY Dora and R Mutyala Raju, CMDs of DISCOMs and M Kamalakar Babu, VC&MD/NREDCAP etc, felt that Andhra Pradesh has become a pioneer in the performance of the power sector which paves the way for rapid economic development of the state. The Special CS/Planning said that Micro level growth parameters are to be identified and continuously monitored for achieving the desired goals.

The Chief Secretary has congratulated the Secretary, (Energy, I&I) and top brass of the power sector for achieving 973 units of per capita consumption per annum in 2014-15 as against 879 units during 2013-14. Renewable Energy of 1400 MW capacity will be added in the next FY. He also said that electricity consumers are quite happy about 24X7 power supply, which enhances the quality of life even in rural areas. The Chief Secretary has directed the District Collectors to expedite the process of land acquisition, relief and rehabilitation for various infrastructure projects and also the Govt. Depts. to expedite files related to infrastructure projects.