Sharp exchanges were witnessed between the Telugu Desam and YSR Congress members in the Assembly on Monday on the issue of power situation in the State. Both sides reeled out figures to buttress their claims that the power position was ‘far better’ during the rule of their respective parties. “After N. Chandrababu Naidu took over as the Chief Minister there is vast improvement on the power front. During the last two months the power deficit has come down to zero and in the coming days Andhra Pradesh will become power surplus state”, said G. Ram Mohan (TDP) while participating in the debate on energy.
He accused the Congress government of neglecting the power sector by merely indulging in politics. But as soon as the Telugu Desam government came to power things started looking up. Power cuts were becoming a thing of the past. During the last two months Vijayawada city had not witnessed any power cuts, Mr. Ram Mohan remarked and said YSRC’s Jaleel Khan, who represented the city, would bear witness.
Mr. Khan, however, denied this and asked the TDP member to be honest and tell whether the power position was not better during the YSR government. Another YSRC legislator Goverdhan Reddy said the white paper released by the Chief Minister on power was full of lies and half truths. Whatever development took place in the power sector happened only during YSR regime, he said.
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Labour Minister, K. Achannaidu, countered by saying how the power position had improved in the villages after Mr. Naidu took over. Minister for Information and Public Relations, P. Raghunadha Reddy, charged the YSRC member of misleading the House and shot off figures to show how the installed capacity touched 90 per cent under the TDP rule when it was just 56 per cent in the Congress period. He said from October 2 the domestic and commercial sector would be provided 24 hour power supply.
Roads and Buildings: Mohan Reddy (YCRCP) deplored the pitiable condition of roads and asked government to develop them itself instead of doing so through the PPP mode. P. Vishnu Kumar Raju (BJP) wanted proper roads to be laid in Vishakapatnam. The barriers placed on the highway leading to airport was causing lot of delays and also accidents. The R&B Minister said all the potholed roads would be repaired in next three months.