The State government is chalking out plans to provide relief to the consumers from power tariff hikes by 2019-20 and slash the tariff if required by then. It is also making efforts to generate 5,000 MW solar power by 2020.
There was shortage of 22.5 million units (MU) when the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) came to power. The power supply increased to 55,160 MU in 2016-17 from 47,256 MU in 2014-15, which was an increase of 11%. The money borrowed for power generation stood at ₹13,000 crore. As the power generation improved considerably, the government was now focusing on reducing the interest burden on loans, according to Energy Minister Kimidi Kala Venkat Rao.
Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat on Wednesday, the Minister said the government would negotiate with bankers on the interest rate. The government was paying 11% interest and wanted to bring it down to 8.5%. The power dues from other government departments were also mounting. The Irrigation department alone had to clear ₹600 crore. “We are asking them to clear the dues from their budgetary allocations,” he said.
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To a question, the Minister said there was no alternative except legal action to recover the dues from Telangana. Complex of issues were involved in it such as the AP government had to pay ₹1,500 crore towards coal purchased from Telangana, he explained.
The Minister launched a website www.ceigap.in of the Directorate of Electrical Safety as part of ease of doing business initiatives.
Principal Secretary Ajay Jain and others were present.
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