The Hon’ble Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, reviewed the urban development, housing, and power sector schemes for the state of Andhra Pradesh in a meeting held in Vijayawada. The meeting was attended by key ministers from the Andhra Pradesh government, including Shri Gottipati Ravi Kumar, Hon’ble Minister for Energy; Shri Ponguru Narayana, Hon’ble Minister for Municipal Administration & Urban Development; and Shri Kolusu Parthasarathi, Hon’ble Minister for Housing, I&PR. Senior officials from both the State Government and the Government of India (GoI) also participated, along with representatives from the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Ministry of Power, and Power Finance Corporation (PFC).
During the meeting, discussions were focused on various aspects of the power sector in Andhra Pradesh, including power generation, transmission, and distribution. The state officials raised important concerns regarding the ongoing work under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) and the current power requirements of the state. They also discussed potential solutions to address these challenges.
One of the key requests made by the state was for the allocation of power from the proposed Thermal Power Plant by Coal India Limited (CIL). This allocation would utilize coal from Talcher mines under the SHAKTI policy. Additionally, the state sought coal linkage for a thermal power station in Srikakulam and support for the renovation and modernization of older thermal units. The state also requested assistance under the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and the allocation of concessional coal under an existing fuel supply agreement between SEIL and MCL.
In his address, Shri Gottipati Ravi Kumar, the Hon’ble Minister for Energy in Andhra Pradesh, expressed gratitude to Shri Manohar Lal for his visit and highlighted the concerns of the state related to the power sector. He assured that the state would make every effort to improve the overall situation and strengthen the sector.
Shri Manohar Lal, in his address, acknowledged the concerns raised and expressed his commitment to resolving the issues. He emphasized that his visit would help in identifying new initiatives and solutions to improve services for the citizens of Andhra Pradesh. He praised the role of RDSS in improving electricity distribution and strengthening infrastructure in the sector. He urged the state to expedite the implementation of the works sanctioned under RDSS and to prioritize smart metering for government establishments in a phased manner.
The Union Minister also assured the state of continued support from the Government of India on issues related to RDSS, BESS, and coal linkages for thermal power plants. He reiterated the Government of India’s commitment to supporting Andhra Pradesh’s overall development and wished for the well-being of the people of the state.
This meeting marks a significant step toward addressing the pressing issues in Andhra Pradesh’s power sector and lays the foundation for ongoing cooperation between the state and the central government to ensure the state’s energy needs are met efficiently.
