Vijayawada: Polavaram project , considered the lifeline of Andhra Pradesh, will also make the state surplus in power generation. It will add about 980 megawatts of hydel power to the state grid.At present, the state has an installed capacity of 2,336 megawatts of hydel energy. Once Polavaram and other projects are completed, the total hydel power generation in AP will touch 4,600 megawatts.Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who reviewed developments in the energy sector with senior officials on Sunday, said the Polavaram dam, when completed, will help stabilisation of power grid in the state. By the time the dam is ready, there will also be integration of solar (2,840 megawatts) and wind (4,061 megawatts) power. Officials told the chief minister that engineering works of Polavaram hydel project are progressing as per schedule, with excavation work of power house scheduled to be completed by June.The APGenco has planned to complete the project within five years at an estimated cost of Rs 5,339 crore. Officials told the chief minister that the project will be ready before the 2022 deadline.Naidu directed officials to complete the Polavaram hydel plant (12 hydel units each with a capacity of 80 megawatts) at least six months ahead of the schedule, on a mission mode. He also emphasised the need on generating clean and green power. “The state government is making efforts to supply the highest quality power to consumers without increasing power tariffs. The demand for electricity would increase due to the rapid economic growth in the state,” Naidu said.Stating that there is a strong correlation between GDP growth and increase in power generation capacity, Naidu said several global entities had showed interest to set up their business establishments in AP only because of the measures the state government has taken to provide water and energy security.He said the second phase of reforms introduced by the state government led AP to bag many awards in power sector. “The government has provided relief to 18 lakh farmers by supplying nine hours of free power per day. Polavaram will herald a unified development of irrigation, water supply to industries and providing drinking water apart from bulk hydro power generation,” the CM added.AP currently has a total installed capacity of 18,000 megawatts. It was only 9,000 megawatts in 2014 when the state was bifurcated.

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