AP to take steps to complete Polavaram proj by March 22

VIJAYAWADA: The State government, which is focussing on clean and green power like solar and wind, has decided to take steps to complete the construction of Polavaram Hydro-Electric Project (PFEP) on a fast-track mode by March 2022, with an estimated cost of `5,338 crore.

The multi-purpose Polavaram project for the unified development of irrigation, water supply to industries and power generation utilising the enormous surplus water flows of River Godavari is expected help double the  hydroelectricity generation from the existing 2,336 MU (FY 2016-17) to around 4,600MU by 2022.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, during a review meeting with officials on Sunday, said fast-track completion of Polavaram Hydro Electric Project would be a great help for the State in meeting energy and peak load requirements. He directed the officials to pay special focus on all the projects to enhance power generation capacity of the State.

The State government, which is determined to strengthen the public undertaking sector, has issued directions to APGENCO (Andhra Pradesh Generating Corporation), which is second largest state-owned power generating entity in the country, to achieve an additional generation of 3,560 MW by March 2022.
The Chief Minister said government is determined to strengthen and make APGENCO as number 1 generation company in the country. He directed Principal Secretary (Energy) and APGENCO MD K Vijayanand to pursue with the Centre on the coal stock availability.

He emphasised the need for maintaining the quality of construction and time-bound completion of all the power projects.  “Though we have achieved surplus power, the power utilities have to envisage the future demand for next 25 years in view of the future investments, anticipated industrial development, and construction of the best world class capital city of Amaravathi,” he said.

According to him, promotion of green power has become a global phenomena due to climate change and the utilities should work out a plan to have a minimum 40 to 45 per cent renewable on a sustainable basis, apart from modernising the thermal power stations through adopting global efficient technologies like supercritical boiler to substantially reduce the pollution.

Expressing satisfaction over the progress achieved by the State in solar and wind power generation, he congratulated the Energy Department for getting National Energy Conservation Award for third consecutive time.

“I am happy that we could meet on average 25 per cent of load demand through solar and wind energy. We surpassed California, which has 40% generation capacity of clean power, with 46% Generation capacity of clean energy in October-2017. Large-scale development of solar and wind power generation in the State has helped to bail out the present coal crisis, “ he said.