Centre allocates 177-Mw additional power to Andhra Pradesh

CM Naidu has directed officials to work out modalities for securing the allocated power at the earliest

The Union power ministry has agreed to allocate an additional 177-Mw of power from NTPC’s Jajjar power plant to Andhra Pradesh.

Chief minister, N Chandrababu Naidu, has directed officials of the energy department and power utilities to work out modalities for securing the allocated power at the earliest, according to an official press release on Monday.

Consequent to the request of the chief minister during his recent visit to Delhi, the coal ministry has issued instructions to the Western Coal Fields of Maharashtra to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with APGenco (generation corporation) for allocation of 400,000-tonnes of coal to the state thermal power projects. A communication has been received from Western Coal Fields by APGenco in this regard.

“Whatever the steps you initiate or propose, the government will extend its full support. Our ultimate goal is to provide maximum power to improve the supply position in this critical juncture of power shortages. For achieving this, the power officials should work round the clock to provide better services to the people.” the chief minister is stated to have told the power officials.

The chief minister also directed Ajay Jain, energy department principal secretary, and K Vijayanand, APGenco managing director, to liaison with the railway ministry for arranging sufficient number of rakes for smooth transportation of coal to power stations.