VIJAYAWADA: The State government is planning to reduce the electricity charges by next year thanks to the decreasing production cost of solar energy projects.
As part of the second phase reforms being implemented in the power sector, the State government is focusing more on alternative energy sources like solar and wind energy.
As the production cost of solar energy is less compared to other sources, the government is planning to slash the electricity charges to some extent.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, during a review meeting at his residence in Undavalli near here on Saturday, directed the officials to submit him a report within a week over the possibilities of reducing the solar energy production cost so as to slash the electricity charges to some extent by next year.
Expressing satisfaction over completion of the 250 megawatts capacity solar power plant in Anantapur district, which is one among the four solar projects taken up by the State government, Naidu wanted the officials to complete all the remaining projects at the earliest.
Stating that 20 per cent of electricity has been used for agriculture purposes, he said the government now reached the comfortable stage of supplying power for agriculture during the day time.
Calling for more coordination between Panchayat Raj and Municipal Administration departments, Naidu instructed the officials develop technology for distributing water and electricity bills on real time through AP fibre network, The CM also instructed the officials to make patent right registration for every new technology invention.
Airport infrastructure
Underscoring the need for improving the infrastructure in airports as the air traffic in the State stood at 35 per cent while the national average is only 18 per cent, he asked the officials to complete the works of runway and second terminal in Vijayawada airport at the earliest and start cargo services.
When the officials informed that Zoom is launching air services between Delhi - Indore - Tirupati - Vijayawada - Tirupati - Indore - Delhi by the end of July, the Chief Minister wanted the officials to increase air services through Regional Connectivity Scheme.
He also suggested the officials to operate air services to Dubai, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur from Vijayawada.
Observing that all the world famous cities are having their own airlines, Chief Minister said that the government is also making efforts to bring out a new airlines named Amaravati.
Stating that the government is establishing energy university in Anantapur at a cost of `400 crore and logistic university in Kakinada at a cost of `350 crore, he directed the officials to launch the academic activities from this year itself by arranging temporary campuses with the help of local universities.
AP Non-Conventional Energy Sources Development Corporation (NEDCAP) managing director Kamalakar Rao brought to the notice of the Chief Minister that NEDCAP is working as anchor agency for the energy university and said that Prof Mantha has been appointed as advisor to it.