AP committed to supply free power to farmers: YSR

Hyderabad, Mar 30 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today said the State Government was committed to provide free power supply to the agriculture sector.

While discussing the implementation of the free power supply with newly appointed Chairman and Managing Director of Transco Ajay Kallam here, the Chief Minister said steps should be taken to reduce transmission and distribution losses and quality power supply to the domestic sector.

Stating that the consumption of power supply in the state had increased drastically, Dr Reddy said four years back, the total consumption was confined to one crore consumers and now it had increased to 1.9 crore consumers.

The Government was planning to increase energy production, including thermal power production, he said, adding, the state will produce surplus electricity in the near future.

The Government will increase its investments in the APGenco for more electricity production, he said, adding that the state will get 3,600 MW power through the Krishnapatnam Ultra Mega Project.

The main aim of the Government was to protect the interests of the farmers and increase the agriculture production, he said.

The Government was ready to spend Rs 3,000 crore to supply power to the agriculture sector in Rabi and Kharif seasons, he said.

UNI BR DS PDT KN2304