Date:04/04/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/04/04/stories/2004040411410500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Three thermal stations bag awards for productivity

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, APRIL 3. The Rayalaseema (Muddanur), Kothagudem and Vijayawada thermal power stations of the AP Genco have been awarded the first, second and third best awards of the Union Ministry of Power in productivity/performance for the second consecutive year for 2003-04.

The Rayalaseema plant in Cuddapah district (420 MW) scored a Plant Load Factor (PLF) of 92.2 per cent, the highest among all thermal stations in the country, to be eligible to get the award. The Kothagudem Stage V (500 MW) and the Vijayawada (1,260 MW) stations maintained the same at 91.9 per cent and 91.8 per cent, respectively. The AP Genco CMD, J. Parthasarathy, will receive the awards from the Ministry at a function to be held at Delhi later.

Pending the Delhi function, the AP Genco presented gold medals and mementos to chief engineers of these plants and to that of the Vijjeswaram gas station (272 MW), Ramagundam "B" (62.5 MW) and the Kothagudem "A" and "B" stations ( 240 MW each) also in recognition of their outstanding performance. The AP Transco CMD, Rachel Chatterjee, gave away the medals and mementos to the officials at a functuion held at the Vidyut Soudha this morning presided over by the Principal Secretary for Energy, Jannat Hussain.

The recepients were T. Poornachandra Rao, Y. Kumaraswamy, G. Vijayakumar, chief engineers of the Rayalaseema, Kothagudem V and Vijayawada stations, T. Sambasiva Rao, director (thermal), AP Genco, who ensured timely supply of coal, making the exemplary performance possible, and the SE of the Vijjeswaram plant, G. Satyanarayana. Also honoured were the chief engineer of the Ramagundam "B" station, M. V. Ramanamurthy, and of the Kothagudem "A" and" "B" stations, K. Prabhakara Rao, for successfully modernising their stations and attaining high PLF.

K.V. V. Satyanarayana Murthty, another engineer from Vjjeswaram, was honoured for improving the environment around the plant through a special programme.

Mrs Rachel Chatterjee praised the Genco for being the backbone of Transco in maintenance of quality and reliable supply to the consumers, with a total installed capacity of 6,561 MW and complimented "team leader", Mr Parthasarathy, for Genco's distinction. A note circulated by the Genco mentioned a new project— a 500-MW plant at Bhoopalapalli in Warangal district.