AP Chambers Flags Infra, Energy Policy Concerns in Meeting with Joshi

A delegation of the Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Federation (AP Chambers), led by its President P. Bhaskara Rao, met Union Minister Pralhad Joshi in New Delhi and submitted a set of representations on issues concerning food processing, MSMEs, quality infrastructure and renewable energy.

The Chamber sought the establishment of a BIS-owned regional testing laboratory in Andhra Pradesh to strengthen quality infrastructure for industry, exporters and MSMEs. It also pushed for greater support to rice value addition and food processing, noting that the State exports rice worth over ₹20,000 crore annually but has considerable untapped potential in processed segments.

AP Chambers also called for reforms in Legal Metrology to improve ease of doing business and proposed setting up a regional centre for Legal Metrology and Calibration in the State. It further suggested the establishment of a national food storage and logistics hub in Andhra Pradesh, along with improved procurement and storage systems for food grains.

In a separate representation, the delegation raised concerns over the implementation of ALMM-II/DCR module norms and Time-of-Day (ToD) billing in the renewable energy sector, stating that the changes have led to steep cost escalation and impacted project viability.

It sought transitional relief for ongoing projects, including grandfathering of approvals already sanctioned, financed or under execution, and a phased implementation timeline to reduce disruption.

Energy Committee Vice-Chairman B. Phani Chandra was part of the delegation. The Minister, according to the Chamber, assured that the representations would be examined.