Set up UG cable network in cyclone-prone areas: Chandrababu Naidu

Vijayawada: The Union Ministry of Power has asked Energy Department and power utilities to share the success story of Andhra Pradesh with other States for effective implementation of various power schemes such as Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) and Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyothi Yojana (DDUGJY) in a time-bound manner.

In a communiqué from Sramashakthi Bhavan of Union Ministry of Power to the Principal Secretary for Energy and APCRDA Ajay Jain, the Central government invited AP to participate in review, planning and monitoring (RPM) meeting in New Delhi on Monday and showcase the successful implementation of Central government schemes to other States.

On the occasion, the Principal Secretary said that the network strengthening had been taken up in both urban and rural areas with a total outlay of Rs 690 crore and Rs 920 crore respectively in the State under the schemes.

Ajay Jain, who is in Srikakulam along with power sector advisor K Ranganatham, EPDCL CMD HY Dora, AP Transco JMD Dinesh Purchuri and Directors Seshu Kumar and Chandrasekhar to oversee the relief works in cyclone affected areas, said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Energy Minister K Kala Venkata Rao directed the officials to plan underground cable network in cyclone-prone coastal areas in the State to prevent power interruptions during the cyclones and floods.  

“The Chief Minister has instructed the Energy department to plan a foolproof mechanism for cyclone-prone areas to restore power supply within 24 hours when cyclones occur. He also directed them to expedite infrastructure development works and focus on providing uninterrupted quality power supply,” Ajay Jain said.  

He said that the government had already taken up the underground cable works in Visakhapatnam at a cost of Rs 700 crore after power infrastructure was badly affected during the Hudhud cyclone.

“The underground cable works in Vizag are in full swing. The government has also decided to extend the underground cable network to all other coastal areas and strengthen the systems. We have already taken up power infrastructure development works with World Bank funds of Rs 3,000 crore in districts,” Ajay Jain said.

Principal Secretary (IT) and CMD of AP Transco and MD of AP Genco K Viayanand said the Centre was fully satisfied with the performance of AP power sector and had appreciated the efforts of the State government in maintaining the transmission and distribution losses to a lowest of 9.72 per cent.