New Power Sub-Stations to Ensure Uninterrupted Supply; No Additional Burden on Public: Gottipati

Nellore: Hon’ble Minister for Energy, Shri Gottipati Ravi Kumar, stated that new power sub-stations are being constructed to ensure quality and uninterrupted electricity supply to farmers and the general public. The Minister, along with Nellore MP Shri Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy and Kovur MLA Smt. Vemireddy Prasanthi Reddy, inaugurated a 33/11 KV sub-station constructed at a cost of Rs. 3.30 crore at Panchedu village in Buchireddypalem Mandal of Nellore district on Tuesday.

On the same day, Hon’ble Minister for Energy Shri Gottipati Ravi Kumar also inaugurated a 33/11 kV sub-station constructed at a cost of Rs. 3.61 crore at Kudithipalem village in Indukurupeta Mandal under the Kovur Assembly Constituency.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that the government is taking steps in accordance with the directions of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu to ensure that not even a single rupee of additional power burden falls on the public. The Minister alleged that the previous YSRCP government increased power tariffs nine times without effectively utilizing the state’s available power resources, thereby imposing an additional burden of nearly Rs. 30,000 crore on the public. He stated that three-phase power supply is being provided in every village under the RDSS scheme and assured that agricultural power connections will be extended to all eligible farmers at the earliest. 

Referring to the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Shri Gottipati Ravi Kumar said that the NDA-led coalition government is fully committed to safeguarding the interests of the plant and its workers. He explained that power dues amounting to Rs. 600 crore were kept pending to protect the welfare of steel plant employees, which impacted the ratings of APDISCOM Named APEPDCL. He accused a section of the media of spreading false narratives on this issue to mislead the public.

The Minister assured that quality and uninterrupted power supply would be ensured even in rural areas. He announced that discussions would be held soon with the Chief Minister to fill nearly 500 Assistant Engineer (AE) posts in the Energy Department. He stated that the coalition government is moving forward with the goal of providing employment to 20 lakh youth in the state. He further announced that a new sub-station near the Nellore Kisan SEZ and a DE office in Kovur constituency would be constructed. Additionally, he said that 10 to 12 more sub-stations would be established in Nellore district to eliminate low-voltage problems. 

Highlighting welfare initiatives, the Minister said that Andhra Pradesh is providing social pensions worth Rs. 33,000 crore, an initiative unmatched anywhere in the country. He also stated that 16,300 teacher posts have been filled to strengthen the public education system and that recruitment has been completed for 6,000 posts in the police department. Nellore MP Shri Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy expressed happiness over the inauguration of the sub-station by the Energy Minister, calling it a positive development for the region. Kovur MLA Smt. Vemireddy Prasanthi Reddy recalled that the coalition government reduced power tariffs for aqua farmers by Rs. 1.50 per unit after recognizing their issues and thanked the Energy Minister for taking proactive steps in the construction of power sub-stations. Nellore City In-charge Mayor Shri Roop Kumar and several coalition leaders were present at the programme.