APTransco to widely publicise power schemes

Andhra Pradesh Transmission Corporation Limited (APTransco) is planning to launch a massive public awareness programme shortly for the successful and effective implementation of the 'free power scheme' for the agricultural sector and the '24-hour uninterrupted power supply scheme' to rural areas.

As part of this programme, concerted efforts will be made to invite suggestions and cooperation from various agencies like voluntary organisations, transformer committees, Panchayat organisations and the existing government machinery including village workers.

Disclosing this at a workshop on 'Impact of Free Electricity to Agri Sector "" Role of Media Management' conducted by Dr MCR HRD Institute of Andhra Pradesh on Saturday, A Chandra Sekhara Reddy, chief general manager (corporate communications) of APTransco, said that the Andhra Pradesh power utilities have also contemplated a special scheme for improving quality and reliability of assured power supply in rural areas where 70 per cent of state's population resides.

"This scheme facilitates 24-hour power supply to rural households on par with urban areas by September 2004 at a cost of about Rs 1,000 crore with financial support from Rural Electrification Corporation (REC). The new government of Andhra Pradesh has extended its full support to APTransco to complete this scheme as per the schedule. Through this scheme, 24-hour supply can be given to rural population subject to the availability of normal hydel power generation which in turn depends on inflows into the reservoirs," Reddy said.

"Over 90 per cent of the 3,415 feeders have already been segregated. Single phase transformers have been fixed over 95 per cent of the 61,625 locations. Due to the separation of agriculture and domestic feeders and fixing of single-phase transformers in rural areas, 24-hour power supply can be provided to rural households and rural cottage industry," he added.

"Segregation specifically helps in successful implementation of 'Free Electricity Scheme' by providing assured power supply to agri sector and preventing wasteful consumption by enforcing measures to control misuse of free power for other than agri sector like ice factories, welding shops and other commercial activities," he said.

APTransco also envisages formation of 'Transformer Committees' in village/mandal level for implementing the scheme through efficient use of electricity.

A high-level committee under the chairmanship of Rachel Chatterjee, CMD of APTransco, regularly reviews the public participation programmes in the sector and the role in informing the media, especially in view of the decision taken by the government to provide free power supply to agri services.

Reddy said that the farmers can be given assured hours of power supply, which results in enhancing quality and reliable power supply to farmers.

"Separation of feeders in rural areas will bring down the commercial losses resulting in additional revenues to the utilities. Primary health centres in rural areas can get 24-hour power supply by improving storage and treatment facilities. From September 2004 onwards, rural students can also take full benefit of the distance education programmes due to the uninterrupted power supply available to rural areas," he said.