The Hindu : A.P. Govt. announces sops for farm sector

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 29, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

A.P. Govt. announces sops for farm sector

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD OCT. 28. The Andhra Pradesh Government announced here today four major benefits for electricity consumers.

According to the announcement made by the Energy Minister, K. Subbarayudu, after discussions with the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, on the power-related issues, the concessions are reduction of "developmental charges" payable by agriculture consumers coming under the Tatkal Scheme to Rs. 1,000 per HP from Rs. 2,000; a cut in tariff under this scheme by 50 paise per unit from Re.1; extension of the deadline up to December 31, 2003, for claiming surcharge waiver benefit on clearing the arrears of consumption charges accumulated up to November 30, 2003, applicable to agriculture/domestic consumers whose monthly consumption is below 100 units; and waiver of all outstanding bills due from the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes colonies with the burden being borne by the Government.

The Minister said the sops would benefit consumer public in a big way, the SC/ST colonies alone benefiting to a tune of over Rs. 170 crores.

The surcharge waiver was earlier allowed only in case of arrears up to December 2002 with the arrangement to allow payments before December 2003. Now, the benefit was made applicable to arrears for 11 more months.

Mr. Subbarayudu said they would write to the Centre requesting it to depute its Energy Secretary to Hyderabad to help finalise amendments to the Electricity Bill 2003.

The Cabinet Sub-Committee on the issue had finalised State's viewpoint on the deficiencies of the Act.

The Minister asked the Energy Secretary, Jannath Hussain, and the Transco CMD, Rachel Chatterjee, to initiate steps for financial closure for the gas-based private projects of Konaseema EPS Oakwell (445 MW), Vemagiri (370 MW) and Gouthami (464 MW), GVK Expansion (220 MW) and BPL Ramagundam (520 MW), a thermal station.

He also sought similar action regarding the three AP Genco projects— Rayalaseema Stage II (420 MW), Vijayawada expansion (660 MW) and Jurala hydel (77 MW).

He said this was need of the hour because the State required more output to meet the ever-increasing demand.

The present shortage forced the Transco to purchase 400-500 MW from outside sources such as West Bengal through the Power Trading Corporation.

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