REPEATEDLY REPRIMANDED by the Centre for being sluggish in utilizing the funds under the Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme (APDRP) UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) today decided to spend Rs 550 crore by the end of this fiscal.
The APDRP, a Centre-funded project, aims at upgrading and strengthening the power distribution system and reducing losses in cities.
The decision to speed up work on the APDRP project was taken at a daylong meeting held by UPPCL, managing director Avnish Awasthi with discoms’ officials, at Shakti Bhawan, here on Saturday. The suppliers of the material also participated in the meeting. The UPPCL has spent only Rs 60 crore till now despite the funds lying at its disposal.
Apart from the Centre, UP Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has also been expressing its displeasure over tardy progress of implementation of APDRP schemes in the State. The UPPCL at the marathon meeting today decided to spend Rs 75 crore by January end Rs 550 crore by March end.
As per the instructions already issued by the chief secretary, it was decided that the pending work under the APDRP in the six districts of Moradabad, Bareilly, Allahabad, Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Muzaffarnagar would be completed by March end. Likewise, work on APDRP projects would soon begin in the towns under the Agra discom where the scheme has not been launched it. The main towns where the power reform schemes are to be implemented include Agra, Jhansi, Etah, Mainpuri and Etawah.
{{/usCountry}}As per the instructions already issued by the chief secretary, it was decided that the pending work under the APDRP in the six districts of Moradabad, Bareilly, Allahabad, Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Muzaffarnagar would be completed by March end. Likewise, work on APDRP projects would soon begin in the towns under the Agra discom where the scheme has not been launched it. The main towns where the power reform schemes are to be implemented include Agra, Jhansi, Etah, Mainpuri and Etawah.
{{/usCountry}}UPPCL MD Avnish Awasthi said tenders for all the 36 projects under APDRP had either been invited or finalized. “We have issued tough instructions to achieve the targets,” said he.