AP to provide 7-hour quality power supply to farming sector

In view of the enhanced 9 per cent power demand in July this year compared to same month last year due to dry spell and rising temperatures during the kharif season, the Andhra Pradesh government has made foolproof arrangements for providing assured seven hours' quality power supply.
The seven-hour quality power supply would benefit farming sector consisting of around 15 lakhs agricultural pump sets in AP, an official release said here today.
As per the directions of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, a special mechanism has been adopted to see that not even a single acre crop (at any cost) withers due to short supply of power and all possible steps are taken to replace failed Distribution Transformers within stipulated time of 24 hours in rural areas also, it said.

The government has also directed DISCOMs (Power Distribution Companies) to give main focus on providing assured power supply to all drinking water supply schemes to avoid any inconvenience to the public.
State secretary (energy) Ajay Jain, who held teleconference along with senior officers, said the government is keen on implementing energy efficiency activities even in agriculture sector where there is a potentiality of around 35 per cent savings of energy with effective Demand Side Management (DSM) measures.
As a part of the programme, the CM, who has already cleared the proposal for implementation of second phase of Andhra Pradesh Rural High Voltage Distribution System (APRHVDS) project which will cover 46,727 pump sets in seven districts of AP with an estimated cost of around Rs 294 crore, directed the Energy department to give top priority to agricultural sector in providing quality power supply irrespective of seasons, Jain said in the release.

During the recent visit of AP high-level delegation, the Japanese government also assured full support to AP CM for energy efficiency in agriculture and overall infrastructural development of Andhra Pradesh, Jain said.
JICA sanctioned loan assistance to an extent of 85 per cent of the project cost, Rs 251 crores at concessional rate of interest of 0.65 per cent only. The repayment period would be 40 years (including grace period of 10 years), he said.
The prestigious project will ensure quality power supply to farming sector and reduction in distribution losses, avoidance of theft of energy apart from reducing distribution transformer failures in seven districts of Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, Anantapur, Kurnool, Kadapa and Chittoor of the state, the release added.