AP for early execution of power projects

 He also instructed principal secretary (energy) and the CMD of APTransco to clear all the pending issues without further loss of time so that the power projects can achieve financial closure.

 At a review meeting held here today, the minister felt that as the government is forced to purchase 400 to 500 mw of power everyday from other states to meet the increased demand and also increase of load in the coming years, there is absolute need for improving the generation capacity.

 The private projects reviewed at the meeting included the Konaseema EPS Oakwell Power (445 mw), Vemagiri Power Generation (370 mw), Goutami Power Project (464 mw), GVK Extension Project (220 mw) and BPL Ramagundam (520mw).

 The progress of Genco projects - the 420 MW RTPP Stage-II, 670 mw VTPS stage IV and 77mw Jurala was also noticed. The minister has also reviewed the progress of construction of sub-stations programmed for the current year. About 356 sub-stations ranging from 33/11 kv to 400 kv are planned to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 950 crore.

 Of them, 100 stations's work is under progress. In order to supply adequate power to the agriculture sector and supply quality power without interruptions and also keeping in view the ensuing rabi crop, the CMDs of Aptransco and discoms were instructed to speed up the construction of balance sub-stations and complete them by the end of March 2004. They were also asked to recall the tenders wherever it is necessary.

 Subbarayudu instructed that not even a single acre of crop should wither due to lack of power. Jannath Hussain, principal secretary (energy), Rachel Chaterjee, the CMD of Transco, G Sai Prasad, the JMD of Transco, Y Gopalakrishna Murthy, the CMD of EPDCL, Dinesh Kumar, CMD of CPDCL and P Gopal Reddy, CMD of NPDCL participated in the meeting.