Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday said that 24-hour quality power for domestic and industrial sectors would be made available “as soon as possible” by turning Andhra Pradesh into a model State on the power front.
Releasing the white paper on power sector, the first among six such papers to be published, he said that a joint secretary from Union Power Ministry would be here on July 4. His team along with State officials would draw an action plan on streamlining the power sector and making Andhra Pradesh “number one” State.
Replying to questions, the Chief Minister, however, was non-committal whether tariff would be increased, saying the issue would be looked into.
Mr. Naidu said that he had introduced reforms and improved the efficiency in the power sector during TDP regime between 1994 and 2004, while the Congress governments by adopting wrong policies, coupled with corruption and inefficiency during 2004-2014 have destroyed all the systems. There was only an increase of 56 per cent in installed capacity from 10,695 MW to 16,917 MW against an increase of 90 per cent (from 5,634 MW to 10, 695 MW) between 1994 t0 2004.
He said that a detailed roadmap to address the issues of the power sector would be prepared and the best practices in the country would be followed. Among the key objectives would be to provide free power to agriculture sector for seven hours and gradually increase it to nine hours, ensure reliable and cost-effective power to all consumers, optimum harnessing, reduce power loss levels to the lowest in the country.
The Chief Minister said plans were afoot to replace 13.50 lakh pump sets in the State with energy efficient ones and as a result around 25 per cent of energy would be saved. A renewable energy policy would be formulated and steps would be taken to promote solar energy, including setting up of a solar park.
He said that Andhra Pradesh would be getting 177 MW from NTPC Talcher, besides from Krishnapatnam plant and Hinduja’s unit. Efforts were on to procure 300 MW from Tamil Nadu.
On loan waiver, he said the Government needed to do some more exercise as there was no clarity yet from the Centre and RBI.
He said the State Cabinet meetings would be held on the 1, 10 and 20 of every month and would be held the next day if any of those dates happen to be a Sunday.
