Hyderabad: The process to make AP supply power 24x7 was set in motion by a high-level Central team headed by Union power ministry joint secretary Jyothi Arora who flew into the city from Delhi.
She asked the state government to submit a blueprint on the existing power generation and supply status, deficit in energy, electricity required for implementation of ‘power for all (PFA)’, a Central government sponsored scheme, within 15 days.
Though there are apprehensions among people that the power tariff will be hiked when the project is implemented, officials said no discussion took place about the tariff so far. The team-led by Ms Arora held discussions with power department officials who assured Ms Arora that an action plan would be prepared and submitted within 15days on how the AP government would execute the pilot project.
The government of India has selected AP, Rajasthan and Delhi for implementation of a project for 24x7 power supply to the domestic sector. The Centre will extend financial support, power (electricity), coal, additional power and transmission lines and other technical support to the state for the project. Andhra Pradesh is presently faced with a deficit of 500 MW due to which cities, towns and villages in the state are reeling under unprecedented power cuts.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu during interaction with Jyothi Arora and the team said that providing 24x7 power supplies to domestic consumers is his dream project. He directed the Secretary, Energy, Mr Ajay Jain, to co-ordinate with the Central-team on a weekly basis on the progress of the proposed 24 x 7 power scheme.
Ms. Arora assured that the Centre would extend support in ensuring allotment of unallocated power from Central Generating Stations (CGS), additional coal blocks for the existing thermal power plants so as to run the power plants at maximum Plant Load Factor (PLF) and other required support.
Ajay Jain, Secretary, Energy (FAC) said an action plan including the strategy to segregate feeders to extend 24x7 power supply to domestic consumers will be prepared. Earlier, the Central-team held discussions with Mr Ajay Jain, Secretary, Energy (FAC), K. Vijayanand, MD of APGENCO and APTRANSCO, CMDs of DISCOMs H.Y. Dora and Seshagiri Babu and other officials.
