AP Energy Minister Gottipati Ravikumar says 627 compassionate appointment orders have been issued since the coalition government assumed office.
Amaravati: The State government is expediting compassionate appointments to the families of electricity employees who died while in service, with eligible dependants now being issued appointment orders within four months, Energy Minister Gottipati Ravikumar said on Wednesday.
The Minister was speaking at a programme held at the Secretariat, where he handed over appointment orders to 27 eligible dependants of deceased employees of APGENCO. APGENCO Managing Director Nagalakshmi, IAS, was also present.
Mr. Ravikumar said the coalition government had issued compassionate appointment orders to 627 persons since it assumed office. The objective was to provide employment support to families that had lost their earning members while in service and to avoid delays in processing their cases, he said.
The government was also taking steps to address the shortage of manpower in the Energy Department. Around 7,000 Energy Assistants would be trained and their services utilised by the department, the Minister said.
He said the government was filling 629 Assistant Engineer posts to strengthen the department’s human resources. Despite legal challenges aimed at delaying the recruitment process, the government had taken steps to pursue the appointments effectively, he said.
Mr. Ravikumar said the coalition government had not increased electricity charges by even a rupee since assuming office. Under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the government was taking a series of measures to strengthen power utilities and expand infrastructure, he said.
As part of the infrastructure expansion, 132-kV, 220-kV and 400-kV substations were being constructed at various locations to address low-voltage issues and ensure reliable power supply. The distribution companies were also setting up 33/11-kV substations and distribution transformers to improve supply at the local level.
The government was ensuring power supply to domestic, agricultural, aquaculture, industrial and commercial consumers in line with demand. Electricity was also being procured whenever necessary to meet requirements, Mr. Ravikumar said.
He said Andhra Pradesh was maintaining uninterrupted supply even during night-time peak hours, when several States were facing challenges in meeting higher demand.
The State government was giving priority to renewable energy and accelerating the implementation of the PM Surya Ghar scheme, Mr. Ravikumar said.
Steps were being taken to install solar power units for six lakh SC and ST families under the scheme. Around Rs. 2 lakh in subsidy benefits were being provided for eligible Surya Ghar connections, and installations were being taken up across the State, he said.
Andhra Pradesh had moved up to the fourth position nationally in the implementation of the PM Surya Ghar scheme, the Minister said. On the Chief Minister’s directions, the government had also expedited the PM Surya Ghar and Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) works.
The State had strengthened preparedness to deal with El Niño conditions by increasing coal stocks and carrying out repairs at power plants to improve generation, he said.
Mr. Ravikumar called upon newly recruited employees to undergo comprehensive training and remain vigilant while discharging their duties. Safety and responsibility were particularly important in the power sector, he said.
Employees should work towards improving consumer satisfaction and enhancing the reputation of the power utilities, the Minister said.
The government was investing substantial amounts in power infrastructure and taking firm decisions to further strengthen the State’s electricity system, he added.
