The Hindu Business Line : AP plans to add 3,187 MW of power in five years

THE State Government, through Andhra Pradesh Generation Corporation (AP Genco), has drawn up plans to add about 3,187 megawatts (MW) of power, investing about Rs 14,951 crore within five years.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, the State Energy Minister, Mr Mohd Ali Shabbir, along with officials of AP Transco, AP Genco and other distribution companies, said that all these projects are proposed to be completed by 2010 with funding from agencies such as Power Finance Corporation and Rural Electrification Corporation.

While a significant part of this proposed expansion covers coal-based stations, about 284 MW of this would be through hydel plants at Jurala and the Nagarjunasgar tail pond dam. For all the expansion projects, the financing has been tied up, and negotiations are underway for finalising the funding of the 2x800-MW Krishnapatnam project.

Referring to the Electric Power Survey report of Central Electricity Authority, the Minister said that the estimated peak demand by the end of XI Plan period (March 2012) is 15,213 MW.

The total capacity required by 2012, including 29 per cent reserve margin, is estimated at 19,625 MW. As per the Transco load forecast, the demand is likely to be about 14,334 MW. Given the present installed capacity of 11,134 MW, the State would be able to meet such a requirement through this additional capacity.

With significant inflows into various reservoirs in the State both under the Krishna and Godavari river systems, the hydel power generation has gone up significantly now to 2,218 MW against 400 MW during the same period last year.

All the seven units of 110 MW each at Srisailam right bank, six units of 150 MW each at Srisalam left bank and all but one unit at Nagarjunasagar have commenced hydel power generation. This has significantly eased the power demand-supply situation. In fact, the State would be able to offer power to other States if required.

Assuring the farm sector of seven hours of power supply to meet the kharif and rabi crop requirements, the Government said it may also consider increasing the number of hours of supply if necessary.

Referring to new projects, the Minister said, "In order to save time, the Government and AP Genco have decided to set up a 500-MW project at Vijayawada instead of the super-critical plant planned before." Consequently, this project has been awarded to BHEL.

`Micro' benefits for tenant farmers

HYDERABAD: Aimed at extending the benefits of micro-irrigation schemes to lakhs of tenant farmers across the State, the Andhra Government has issued orders amending the guidelines announced earlier.

In terms of the new orders, all the tenant farmers are eligible for the subsidy being offered under the Andhra Pradesh Micro Irrigation Project (APMIP) scheme.

However, the Government has insisted that the tenant farmers should hold notorised lease agreements on land valid for five years over a stamp paper of Rs 100 instead of registered lease agreements.

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