AP govt forms advisory panel on new capital

The utilities will take up High Voltage Distribution System in Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, Anantapur, Kurnool, Kadapa and Chittoor districts

The Andhra Pradesh government today issued a GO (government order) constituting an advisory committee to examine the various aspects of building a new state capital and suggest a plan of action for the same.

The committee, led by municipal administration and urban development minister P Narayana, will advise on conceptualisation of a vibrant, diverse and inclusive city, creation of a highly-liveable urban ecosystem, efficient use of natural resources and urban planning policies, according to a press release.

The committee comprises nine members, including Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MPs YS Chowdary and Amararaja Batteries Limited managing director Jayadev Galla, Bommidala Srinivas of AGMR Group, GVK Group vice chairman GV Sanjay Reddy, NSL Group chairman M Prabhakara Rao and Peepul Capital chairman Chintalapati Srinivasa Raju.

Under the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act, 2014, which created a separate Telangana state, the Centre has already constituted a committee to identify and suggest where the new capital of Andhra Pradesh shall come up.

To implement RGGVY with Rs  330 crore
Meanwhile, the state government has directed the power utilities to make special efforts to expedite the implementation of Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) with an outlay of around Rs 330 crore.

“Both the rural and urban consumers will be given equal priority by the government/power utilities in providing quality power. The utilities will take up High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS) in Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, Anantapur, Kurnool, Kadapa and Chittoor districts at an estimated cost of Rs 295 crore,” said Ajay Jain, secretary (energy department), Andhra Pradesh.

It may be noted that the Centre had already approved Rs 35,447 crore for implementation of the RGGVY scheme across the country.

As part of this, the distribution companies (discoms) in AP have proposed for the electrification of 428,000 BPL (below poverty line) rural households with necessary infrastructure in 10,756 villages.