State urges plan panel for inclusion under R-APDRP

Orissa, which was denied benefits under the Centrally sponsored Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (APDRP) due to privatization of its electricity distribution business, has urged the Planning Commission to reconsider the state under Restructured APDRP (R-APDRP).

“We have requested the Planning Commission officials to reconsider Orissa's inclusion under the R-APDRP scheme so that the state gets assistance for upgrading its power distribution system. The R-APDRP scheme is meant for implementation in urban areas with a population of 30,000 and above,” said G Mathivathanan, state energy secretary.

The Planning Commission officials have assured that they will pursue the demand with the Union ministry of power.

Officials of Planning Commission held talks with the state Chief Secretary B K Patnaik on Thursday at the state secretariat.

During his recent visit to the city, Devender Singh, joint secretary, Union ministry of power, had said the steering committee of the ministry has recommended inclusion of Orissa under R-APDRP to the group of ministers (GOM) which is looking into various issues related to implementation of the scheme.

Central power utility Power Finance Corporation (PFC) is the nodal agency for implementation of the programme. The corporation will act as the single window service under APDRP and will coordinate with the main stakeholders like Union ministry of power, APDRP steering committee, Central Electricity Authority (CEA), financial institutions, utilities and various consultants.