CM tells babus to put power projects on fast-track

• Bats for big boost to solar power plants
• Power supply is now being maintained at 100 per cent to industries
• Officials suggest to him to make solar water heaters mandatory for new individual houses

Hyderabad: Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy asked the Energy Department officials to speed up the completion of all ongoing power projects and step up power generation. Reviewing energy sector- both generation and distribution with higher officials of Genco and Transco at the Secretariat on Monday, the Chief Minister said that energy supply should be made comfortable to the consumers of all categories. He asked them to go for additional power purchases if needed. "The officials should not give room for any complaints and supply should be monitored at the highest level besides keeping track of supplies transformer-wise," he said, adding that the officials should send SMSs to him on a daily basis regarding the day's demand and supply position.

Referring to the setting up of solar power plants in a big way in the State, he said that priority should be given to public sector companies if they came forward to set-up solar power units as per terms and conditions. On the occasion, the officials suggested that solar water heaters could also be made mandatory for new individual houses. They informed him that solar power panels could be erected atop government buildings like Secretariat, collectorates, SP offices, government offices, hospitals, colleges, polytechnics and other buildings.

Kiran Kumar Reddy was told that the power supply from July 1 to July 5, 2013 is 228.87 million units against the average per day demand of 255.53 mu. This is in comparison to the power supply during the same period last year which was 209.95 mu against the demand of 250.02 mu. The deficit now is only 36.66 mu per day.

The officials told him there were no load reliefs in Hyderabad, Warangal, Tirupati and Visakhapatnam district headquarters and corporations in the State. Power supply is now being maintained at 100 per cent to the industries. The load relief of two hours are maintained in towns, municipalities and mandal headquarters. Seven hours power supply is being maintained for the farmers throughout the State. Transco officials said that during this year, Krishnapatnam I unit of 800 mw and Sagar Tail Pond of 50 mw and Hindustan I unit of 520 mw will be commissioned. About 255 mw from Tuticorin and 120 mw from Central Generating Stations are also expected. Krishnapatnam II unit 800 mw, Kakatiya 600 mw and Hinduja II Unit 520 mw will be commissioned during 2014.

Chief Secretary Dr PK Mohanty, Principal Secretary for Energy M Sahoo, Chairman and MD for AP Transco Suresh Chanda, MD, APGENCO and other officials attended the meeting.