Solar energy use helped Andhra Pradesh: N Chandrababu Naidu

Rajahmundry: The state government encourages ‘surya dharana’ (sun worship) in a big way in the state and exposure to sun rays during the early hours of the day that would help people to safeguard their health. Taking part in Janmabhoomi-Maa Vooru programme at Vegeswarapuram of Tallapudi mandal in West Godavari on Monday, CM Chandrababu Naidu said they will take up a programme in the state to encourage people to take up sun worship reflecting out ancient culture and traditions.

Mr Naidu said that they will encourage extensive use of solar energy to make AP energy surplus and added that due to use of solar energy, the cost of energy had come down drastically to Rs three per unit from Rs 14. Referring to the vast coastline of the state, he sounded confident that the state was an ideal place to promote solar energy. Referring to previous Congress regime when several industrial units were shut down for want of power while many farmers committed suicide due to crop failure for want of power supply to pump water for crops, the CM stated they had ushered in a new era by introducing a series of reforms in power sector to ensure supply of quality power round-the-clock to farming sector. He also underlined the importance of organising 'Jalasiri' programme befitting out culture and tradition stating that water should be considered as gold and without water no development could take place in the state.

He said that they were going to organise 'Jalasiri aarti' on optimum utilization of river water. With regard to construction of a barrage on Godavari river at Dowleswaram by a British engineer, he said that it helped districts from drought.