AP will get more power by March next: Ponnala

New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh IT and Power Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah on Tuesday said that the State will get additional power of 3,400 mw by March 2014. This would help ease the power situation in the State. Despite the problems faced by the State, the Government did manage to augment power generation and he hoped the situation would further improve soon, he said.

Asked whether Telangana would face severe power crisis after bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Ponnala Lakshmaiah admitted there would be certain problems that would arise but no problem is insurmountable. At every stage, ways and means will be found to tide over the power crisis.

The IT and Power Minister, who was in the capital to attend the State Power Ministers Conference, said, “First time a review meeting has been held for the second time in a calendar year. It demonstrates the Centre’s keenness to sort out issues relating to power production, distribution and transmission.” Despite prudent utilization of all resources in the power sector, Andhra Pradesh, of late, has suffered severe power shortage in the recent past. This is mainly attributable to the shortage of fossil fuels like coal and gas, he said.

In Andhra Pradesh, about 3,000 mw of gas-based power generation capacity is lying idle, as the gas supplies from the Reliance KG D-6 gas wells are nil, at present. This fact has been brought to the notice of Union Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ponnala Lakshmaiah said. This was something that was neither anticipated nor factored in and was an unforeseen problem that has added to the woes of the State Government. “We have requested for allocation of gas on priority basis for power generation. It should be considered at the earliest so that the idle capacity of gas-based power plants can be put to productive use,” he said. “All options for procurement of power, including short-term purchases, purchases through exchanges and bilateral contracts are being explored,” he said.

Ponnala Lakshmaiah said all-out efforts are being made to mitigate the power shortage. The State Government is encouraging Solar Power generation in a big way in the State. Roof-top solar policy with the concept of net-metering has been put in place to promote solar power at consumer level.

The Centre is circulating Model State Electricity Distribution Responsibility Bill, which may later be adopted by the States to enforce discipline in the working of the beleaguered State power distribution companies. The State governments have been asked to submit their Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) by September 30.