The Hindu Business Line : AP urges discoms to supply quality power

Hyderabad March 25 The State Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on Sunday directed the power distribution companies to ensure quality power supply to all sectors including farm sector to save crops.

This was particularly important to ensure supply to the existing major and medium industries and also for those knocking at the State.

During an interaction with Energy Department, the Chief Minister asked the officials to bring down transmission losses and this would in turn ensure that all segments in the State have access to quality power supply.

Admitting that domestic power cuts had become necessary to save the standing crops and provide minimum supply to the farm sector, Dr Reddy reiterated the State Government's commitment not to hike the power tariff.

The Chief Minister assured that of the total power available for the State, about 13,399 million units would be earmarked for the farm sector.

To save the standing crops during the rabi season, the Government would not hesitate to buy power from other States to help the farmers.

He said that his Government had taken a policy not to enhance the power tariff to ensure that the power sector reforms reach the people. This is reflected with the power utilities supplying power to 1.4 crore households without increasing the charges in the last three years.

To help the needy, the State had waived arrears of Rs 185 crore due from the SC and ST consumers.

Dr Reddy said that the industrial consumers would now pay 3.56 paisa next year as against 3.70 paisa last year. The Government would spend about Rs 3,730 crore in the next three years to strengthen the power utilities.

RAJIV SWAGRUHA

In another major initiative to provide affordable housing, the State Chief Minister, Dr Reddy, described `Rajiv Swagruha' would be able to offer housing at 25 per cent lower price compared to the market rates.

The demand survey for housing commences from Sunday and based on the analysis, the project would be taken up.

All applicants would be verified using the Iris database.

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