Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has made it clear that the government will not increase power tariff. Instead, Mr. Naidu has asked the officials concerned to reduce it, if possible. The Chief Minister has further announced that the government will launch ‘Suryadarana’ (worshipping of sun god) programme.
Addressing the Janmabhoomi grama sabha at Vegeswarapuram of Tallapudi mandal in West Godavari district on Monday, the Chief Minister said the government would create wealth by utilising wind, hydel and solar energy. Referring to ‘Suryadarana’ programme, Mr. Naidu observed that worshipping of sun god would give people health and energy, which in turn leads to wealth and prosperity.
Dig at Congress
Reminding that the earlier governments were purchasing power at ₹14 per unit, Mr. Naidu said it came down to ₹3 following use of solar energy. The State government would take up solar energy projects on a big scale and ensure no shortage of power in coming years, the Chief Minister said adding that the reforms introduced in the power sector yielded desired result. During the Congress regime in 2011, the farmers of Konaseema declared crop holiday as a result of scarcity of water and even faced lathicharge to get a bag of fertilizers, he pointed out. Mr. Naidu recalled that during his ‘padayatra’ he saw the plight of the farmers who had failed to get a minimum support price for their crop and decided to extend maximum support to them. He also reminded that farmers died in their agriculture fields due to snake bites as a result of power cuts. Hundreds of industries were closed during the Congress regime due to power crisis and after the TDP government came to power, the problem was solved, he observed.
The Chief Minister said that ‘Jalasiriki harati’ programme would be continued in the State along with ‘Vana mahotsavam’ in Karthikamasam to highlight the importance of water and trees. Mr. Naidu said the Yerrakaluva project would be completed by this March or April.
