‘Govt focus on strengthening power sector’

Vijayawada: The state government is taking productive steps to make the power sector the most efficient and enable the sector to deal with the increasing power demand and ensure 24x7 quality and cost-effective power to the consumers of the state, said special chief secretary for energy K Vijayanand.Engineers’ Day was celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya at Vidyuth Sowdha on Friday. Vijayanand along with Genco MD K V N Chakradhar Babu and other senior officers garlanded the statue of Visvesvaraya.Addressing the engineers of power utilities, the special chief secretary said the state government is determined to make power utilities as the best in the country and set the benchmarks in every aspect of power sector.He said that the state government is taking measures for improving internal efficiency, introducing advanced technologies in power generation, transmission and distribution in the sector.“We have initiated several measures to reach expectations of consumers more significantly, making the sector people-friendly,” said Vijayanand.

Stick to timelines to complete power plant: Genco MD Chakradhar Babu

AP Genco managing director KVN Chakradhar Babu has urged officials to adhere to the schedule for completing the power plant at the Polavaram project. He emphasized the importance of timely completion to address electricity shortages and support industrial and agricultural sectors. Babu inspected the construction progress, expressing satisfaction with the work being done by Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited. He also planted saplings at the site to emphasize a commitment to environmental sustainability.

Ensure quality power to all consumers: JERC

The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission has directed the electricity department in Goa to ensure sufficient and quality power for all categories of consumers, following complaints from industries and commercial consumers about being the first to experience load-shedding during power shortages. The commercial and industrial consumers claim that unscheduled power outages have increased, leading to a higher sale of diesel in Goa. The department states that load-shedding for industrial consumers has been minimal this year due to provisions made in advance for additional power. However, consumers complain about poor maintenance leading to frequent interruptions in power supply.

PM Modi's govt committed to work in coordination with state governments in health sector: Mandaviya

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya reiterated the government's commitment to working with state governments in the health sector. Despite political differences, the government aims to collaborate for the country's betterment. Mandaviya highlighted the 60:40 funding model adopted by the Centre and states for initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat Yojana and the establishment of Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres. He emphasized the need to address the rise in non-communicable diseases due to lifestyle changes and stressed the importance of preventive care and early detection. The government is also studying the increasing cases of heart attacks in the country.