AP CM reviews power supply position with APTRANSCO

Hyderabad, Mar 12 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who yesterday sought Rs 2600 crore from the Central Government for High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS), today said a permanent comprehensive mechanism to provide quality and reliable power supply in the State to 24 lakh agriculture services was the need of the hour.

According to sources, the Chief Minister reviewed the power supply position and implementation of HVDS with top officials of APTRANSCO and asked them to constantly monitor the position.

Expressing satisfaction at the overall power supply position in the State, in spite of peak demand of the agriculture and ongoing examinations, Dr Reddy cautioned the officials that complaints were still being received from Nizamabad, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda and Prakasam districts, among others.

The Chief Minister said the maximum peak demand of 8210 MW reached on February 17 is the highest ever in the history of the state, and is 7.84 per cent more than the demand during the same period last year.

Dr Reddy asked the officials to ensure quality and reliable power supply and reiterated that students preparing for examinations should not be put to any inconvenience and directed the officials to provide uninterrupted power supply between 1800 hours and 0600 hours.

Outlining the importance of 'Rythu Chaitanya Yatras' starting from April two, the Chief Minister emphasised the need for power officials to organise awareness camps.

The State is overdrawing eight million units per day at an additional expenditure of Rs 30 crore per week to meet the ever-growing demand, and in the process the State is purchasing 300 MW power from Tamil Nadu at a cost of Rs 23.1 crore per month, an official release said.

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