Govt initiates steps to avoid power cuts

Hyderabad, Nov 28 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekahra Reddy today said the State Government has allocated Rs 2,600 crore to purchase 4,438 mw power assuring that there would be no power cuts under any circumstances in the State till 2009.

According to an official release, while reviewing the power situation with the officials concerned here, Dr Reddy asked the APTRANSCO to take stock of the power situation well in advance and go for purchase within the State and from outside if necessary.

Directing the APTRANSCO to appoint one of their Directors as a Nodal Officer for providing adequate power to irrigation projects, he said ''not an inch of the ayacut will suffer for water due to power problems in the coming Rabi season.'' Dr Reddy said he would take up with the Centre, the matter for allocation of 700 mw cheap power from Kayamkulam and Eastern region pool.

He asked the Irrigation Department to forward their power requirements and make separate provision for funds in the non plan expenditure and directed the Finance Department to make adequate provisions in this regard.

UNI