HYDERABAD: Buoyed by its ability to enter into Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 80,000 crore with various public sector power companies in a single day, the government of Andhra Pradesh has decided to expedite the implementation of the action plan to achieve energy security by providing 24x7 Power For All (PFA) in a phased manner.
As a part of its initiative, the AP government would notify shortly for procurement of 2,000 mw through long-term bidding process and invest around Rs 4,880 crore on distribution network.
At a review meeting with power officials at his camp office here on Sunday, AP chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the initiative would attract huge investments, generate employment and help achieve overall economic and integrated development of the state.
He said the initiative would help the state meet the future power requirements for the new capital, ports, IT, industries and infrastructure development.
The officials informed the chief minister that the APDISCOMs had initiated long-term bidding process for the procurement of around 2,000 mw as per the guidelines issued by the Centre. “Steps are being taken on setting up feeders and distribution transformers in the coming years,” the officials said.
They informed the CM that apart from taking steps to realise the huge scope for targeted energy savings through energy efficiency projects, the power utilities have targeted 9,180 mw through Non-conventional Energy (NCE) sources such as solar and wind power by 2018-19.
Stating that though major states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have struggled hard to attract the two-wheeler major Hero Motor Corp Limited, the company has chosen AP to invest about Rs 1,600 crore on the project just because of the state’s credibility, pro-public power policy, friendly industrial approach and congenial atmosphere, the chief minister claimed.
According to a press release, Naidu told officials that many automobile ancillary units are keen to invest another Rs 1,500 crore near the proposed Hero Motor plant in Chittoor district.
“The Centre has assured to complete the proposed 4,000 mw NTPC project at Vizag within four years as against the normal period of five years,” he said.
The chief minister directed senior power officials to nominate a nodal officer for each project for which an MoU was signed recently and monitor the progress of works closely on a regular basis.
Naidu to Study Chhattisgarh PDS Model
AP chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, during his one-day visit to Naya Raipur slated for Monday, will examine Chhattisgarh state’s Public Distribution System (PDS) which has plugged many leaks. With the AP government linking all benefits to Aadhaar, the study of Chhattisgarh’s PDS system gains significance. Through the system, Chhattisgarh government is able to cut the flaws in PDS from 40 per cent to 4 percent. Naidu, during his meeting with his Chhattisgarh counterpart Raman Singh, apart from discussing the objections of Chhattisgarh government to the construction of Polavaram project across River Godavari, would study the capital development in Naya Raipur to design the model of AP’s new capital around Vijayawada. The chief minister will study the comprehensive document that outlines planning parameters pertaining to economy, housing, transport, physical and social infrastructure, civic amenities, land use zoning and standards for development in Naya Raipur. Naya Raipur has been identified in the development plan as a satellite city of Raipur.