New sub-stations to ensure quality, uninterrupted power supply: A.P. Energy Minister

New power sub-stations are being constructed across Andhra Pradesh to ensure quality and uninterrupted electricity supply to farmers and general public, said Minister for Energy Gottipati Ravi Kumar

New power sub-stations are being constructed across Andhra Pradesh to ensure quality and uninterrupted electricity supply to farmers and general public, said Minister for Energy Gottipati Ravi Kumar. Along with Nellore MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy and his wife and Kovur MLA Vemireddy Prasanthi Reddy, the Minister inaugurated several development works in SPSR Nellore district on Tuesday.

He inaugurated a 33/11 kV sub-station constructed at a cost of ₹3.30 crore at Panchedu village in Buchireddypalem mandal. He also inaugurated another 33/11 kV sub-station constructed at ₹3.61 crore at Kudithipalem village in Indukurupeta mandal. He announced a new sub-station near the Nellore Kisan SEZ and a Divisional Engineer (DE) office in Kovur constituency.

Additionally, 10 to 12 more sub-stations would be established in the district to eliminate low-voltage problems, the Minister said, adding that the government was taking steps to ensure that not a single rupee of additional power burden fell on the public. He alleged that the previous government increased power tariffs nine times without effectively utilising the available resources.

He stated that three-phase power supply was being provided in every village under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) and assured that agricultural power connections will be extended to all eligible farmers at the earliest. He accused a section of the media of spreading false narratives on power dues of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) to mislead the public.

Referring to the issue, Mr. Ravi Kumar said that the NDA-led government is fully committed to safeguarding the interests of the VSP and its workers. He explained that the power dues amounting to Rs. 600 crore were kept pending to protect the welfare of its employees, which impacted the ratings of the APEPDCL (Eastern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Limited).

He announced that discussions would be held soon with the Chief Minister to fill nearly 500 Assistant Engineer (AE) posts in the Energy department and added that the coalition government was moving forward with the goal of providing employment to 20 lakh youth in the State.