No Power Tariff Hike Under Coalition Govt, Says Ravi Kumar
He urged coalition leaders to counter what he termed “false propaganda” against the government
VIJAYAWADA: Energy minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar on Friday asserted that the coalition government led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has not increased electricity charges since assuming office and will continue to shield consumers from any additional burden.
Addressing programmes in Palnadu district’s Vinukonda constituency, he said Andhra Pradesh became the first state to implement a 13-paise “true-down” reduction in power tariffs, providing relief to consumers. He alleged that the previous YSRC government had imposed thousands of crores in power-related burdens through repeated tariff hikes and “true-up” charges.
Ravi Kumar criticised YSRC leaders for staging protests and raising Assembly questions over tariff hikes allegedly introduced during their own tenure. He urged coalition leaders to counter what he termed “false propaganda” against the government.
Earlier, the minister distributed NTR Bharosa pensions along with government chief whip and Vinukonda MLA G.V. Anjaneyulu. He also laid foundation stones for several development works, including a `1.85-crore giripradakshina road at Sri Ramalingeswara Swamy temple, a ₹5-crore 33/11 KV semi-indoor substation, and a `2.5-crore BT road between Kondramutla and Kanamarlapudi villages.
The minister said 26,000 SC and ST families in Vinukonda constituency and Palnadu district have been sanctioned PM Surya Ghar connections. He added that rooftop solar units would be provided to six lakh SC and ST families across the state within three months.
