AP to have surplus power

Andhra Pradesh would soon become an energy- surplus state, chief minister K Rosaiah, said while inaugurating a property show organised by the AP Real Estate Developers Association and the National Real Estate Development Council, in association with GRIHA and Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

“Keeping in view the future demand, we have taken up a massive capacity addition programme of 16,865 Mw during XI and XII plans consisting of 11 thermal, 5 hydel, 2 gas and 1 nuclear power projects,” Rosaiah said. At present the state has an installed generating capacity of 8,127 Mw.

Steps have been taken to tap the natural gas available in the Krishna-Godavari basin for meeting the requirements of domestic as well as industrial sectors.

“We have already requested the regulatory board to expedite construction of distribution centres in Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Kakinada and Rajahmundry regions. The day is not far off when we will turn on piped gas in our homes,” he said.

He said that the state economy was also doing well. For the first six months of this financial year, tax revenues recorded an increase of 25 per cent compared with the corresponding period of 2009-10. Bumper crop production of 21.4 million tonne was expected on the back of good monsoon, an all-time high in the history of the state.

Inviting entrepreneurs, the chief minister assured his government’s support to them in all possible ways. He pointed out that the state was first in the country to provide incentives for green buildings. It gives a rebate of 10 per cent in property tax on use of solar heating and lighting system and an additional 10 per cent on recycling of waste water and rain harvesting.