RS 3,188 cr earmarked for free power to Agri sector

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government seems to have accorded top priority to free power supply in the allocations made for Energy sector. The government on Wednesday announced that above 40 per cent of the total allocation made for Energy sector would be spent on providing nine-hour free power supply to agriculture.

The government had allocated Rs 7164 crore for Energy sector but of that it has decided to utilise Rs 3,188 crore for free power. The energy department would take up the work of agriculture feeder separation in a phased manner soon, Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said while presenting the budget on Wednesday.

To encourage the use of renewable energy in farm sector, focus would be laid on installing solar pump sets replacing the existing pump sets, the Minister said adding that government also permitted Discoms to procure 1,000 MW of solar power through a transparent and competitive bidding process. Two solar parks with a capacity of 1,000 MW were being set up in Guntur and Anantapur districts.

“Government is keen to tap renewable power potential of the State with special focus on solar and wind power to meet growing demand in an environmentally sustainable manner,” he said adding a comprehensive Solar and Wind policy would be brought in to force soon.

To tide over the power crisis, Ramakrishnudu said an additional capacity of around 2,925 MW power would be commissioned from AP Genco, Central Generating Stations (CGS) and independent power producers. Government already permitted the power utilities to procure 2,000 MW on long-term basis, he informed. He said all the efforts were being made to make success the 'Power for All' (PFA) programme launched in association with the Union government.