Ongole: 9 hrs free power supply for agriculture soon says Balineni Srinivasa Reddy

Ongole: Minister for energy, forests, environment, science and technology Balineni Srinivasa Reddy on Monday said the government is planning to introduce 9 hours uninterrupted free supply of power in daytime for farmers soon.

The YSRCP rank and file celebrated Balineni Srinivasa Reddy for being the minister for one-year by cutting a cake at the district party office here on Monday.

Speaking to media on the occasion, the minister thanked the people of Ongole for electing him as the MLA for five times. By the time he took charge as the minister, he said the department was burdened with Rs 70,000 crore loans.

Following the suggestions of the Chief Minister, they were working to provide free electricity to farmers for nine hours in the daytime. He said the works were going on with a budget of Rs 17,000 crore to resolve technical issues and to provide the free electricity to farmers soon.

He said the government was bearing the burden of subsidies in the electricity charges and were repaying the loans. He said they were establishing 10,000 MW solar power project with Rs 40,000 crore estimation in the state, and as part of it, a 1,500 MW unit will be installed in the district.

He announced they sanctioned Rs 50 crore to Prakasam University and the works of IIIT at Kanigiri, medical college in Markapuram, Ramayapatnem port, fishing harbour at Kothapatnam with Rs 300 crore budget would start this year. He said Rs 900 crore would be released to Veligonda project to complete the works in three months.

Srinivasa Reddy said that the government was taking all steps to protect the environment and added they formed a committee to analyse the situation of 86 companies including Bhagiradha Chemicals in Ongole after the LG Polymers incident.

The permission to run the companies would be given only after they meet the regulations, he said. He said the government stepped up vigil on the transport of red sanders by appointing a special force.