APEPDCL to speed up work on sub-stations

To improve power supply in districts under its purview. On 24-hour supply to domestic and industry and nine-hour free supply to agriculture sector, as promised by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, he said that plans were afoot

Managing Director of APGENCO and in-charge CMD of APTRANSCO K. Vijayanand discussing a point with CMD of APEPDCL MV Seshagiribabu at the press conference after conducting a review meeting with APEPDCL in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. Director APTRANSCO (Projects) S. Subrahmanyam is seen. Photo:C.V.SUBRAHMANYAM

Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) will speed up the work on its sub-stations that were sanctioned, to improve the power supply in the districts under its purview. This was decided in a review meeting held here on Thursday. The meeting was chaired by Managing Director of APGENCO and in-charge CMD of APTRANSCO K. Vijayanand.

Addressing the media, he said, “We have drawn a timeline and an action plan to complete all sub-stations that were sanctioned, with in the next 8 to 10 months.”

In the 400 kv category, work is to be started in three sub-stations, one each in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and West Godavari. There is also a proposal to initiate one in Visakhapatnam and in East Godavari.

In the 220 kv category, work is in progress in one sub-station in Vizianagaram. While one each is to be started in Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari, two are in the proposal stage for West Godavari, he said.

In the 132 kv category, work is in progress in five sub-stations, with one in Srikakulam, three in Visakhapatnam and one in West Godavari. Work is to be started on 10 sub-stations and 18 are in the proposal stage, spread across the five districts.

On 24-hour supply to domestic and industry and nine-hour free supply to agriculture sector, as promised by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, he said that plans were afoot and are being discussed with a committee from the Central Government.

On coal shortage at power plants, he said that about 4 lakh tonnes of coal is being imported and an agreement has been signed with Western Coalfields for 4 lakh tonnes and with Mahanadi Coalfields for 2 lakh tonnes. “By the month end we will have surplus stock of at least 15 days at all power plants,” he said.

According to him, the present transmission rate is about 135 million units and steps were being taken to augment it by another 4 to 5 million units.

Chairman of APEPDCL M.V. Seshagiri Babu said that about Rs. 1,000 crore is due from the government as subsidy and the issue was being addressed at the highest level.