Provide quality electricity to farmers for 9 hours during day time: CM Naidu

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has directed the officials of the Energy Department to provide quality electricity to farmers for 9 hours during the day.

“Take necessary steps to improve the conditions such as power generation, supply and power generation at low cost,” he asked officials at a review meeting with the officials of the power department at the Secretariat in Velagapudi on Friday.

The Chief Minister stressed the need to improve the capacity of the feeders and setting up of special feeders for flawless power supply.

“We must give high priority to solar power generation,” he said and asked officials to come up with suitable plans in setting up the units. Steps should be taken to provide electricity based on requirements. A plan should be made to make full use of the various types of central subsidies in power generation,” he said.

Naidu heard from the officials the extent of electricity generation and supply in the state, the cost of producing a unit of electricity and the cost of buying electricity from other grids to compensate for the deficit.

A review was done on the generation projects such as thermal, hydroelectric, solar, wind power. Officials were told to make plans for the battery energy storage system.

Special chief secretary to energy K. Vijayanand explained the power generation situation in the state through a PowerPoint presentation. Energy minister Gottipati Ravi, secretary to CM Rajamouli, AP Genco MD Chakradhar Babu, AP Transco MD Kirthi, additional secretary to finance J Nivas, KPMG representative Srinivas and others were present.