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HYDERABAD, June 20

THE Andhra Pradesh Government is planning to continue its energy audit programme aimed extend the benefits of reforms to all sections of the society and is mulling the possibility of bringing a revenue recovery legislation to expedite collection of pending power dues.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Thursday said though the State had gradually become power surplus, the benefits of this had not been fully passed on to the consumers as a few sections did not meet the cost of service.

This was further compounded by transmission and distribution losses and agricultural pumpsets. Once these areas were addressed and the flow streamlined, other sections too would gradually experience the benefits of the ongoing reforms process, he said

Mr Naidu reiterated the State plan to sell about 500 MW of power - - 100 MW to Karnataka, 300 MW to be supplied to the Power Trading Corporation and another 100 MW to the Tamil Nadu Government.

While a memorandum of understanding has been signed with the Power Trading Corporation for the sale of 300 MW, it has been agreed to evacuate 100 MW of power to Tamil Nadu. Currently, Tamil Nadu was drawing 50 MW, he said.

Mr Naidu said that the agricultural consumption exceeded the ARR (annual revenue requirement) target of 1,496 MUs by about 400 MUs due to delayed harvesting of rabi till the end of April 2002 in many areas and even till May 15 in Medak and Nizamabad districts.

Further, the 500 MW Simhadri unit remaining shut down had added to the tight power situation. The T&D losses were being constantly monitored and efforts had been initiated to set right the system, he added. In most of the towns, losses had been curtailed significantly. However, in Hyderabad, the losses were estimated at about 37 per cent. This would be gradually brought down, he said.

With regard to pollution control drive and plans to check the use of 15-year-old vehicles in Hyderabad, Mr Naidu said that the Cabinet sub-committee would go into a host of concerns and take a final decision on the issue as reports indicated high pollution levels in the city.

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