Naidu releases white paper on power sector, says YSRCP govt ruined it

Government is not releasing seven white papers on various subjects to blame the previous government, but to ensure transparency and inform the people on wrong policies took the State several years backward - Chandrababu Naidu, AP CM

Amaravati:Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu on Tuesday came down heavily on his predecessor and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for destroying the power sector for which he had laid strong foundation during his previous stint for five years post-bifurcation from 2014.

Releasing a white paper on the power sector, close on the heels of releasing separate white papers on Amaravati and Polavaram, Naidu said that he failed to understand what initiatives Jagan taken to sustain the tempo built up by him. “Instead of further strengthening the power sector, on which the industries are dependent and the farmers’ agriculture operations hinges on nine-hour uninterrupted supply, the erstwhile government totally ruined the power sector,” he alleged.

The TDP supremo made it very clear that the TDP-led NDA Government is not releasing seven white papers on various subjects to blame the previous government, but to ensure transparency and inform the people on wrong policies took the State several years backward.

Staking claim for not increasing power tariff during 2014-19, he said the TDP Government had taken up a series of proactive measures to improve the finances and bring about qualitatively better living conditions to improve the happiness index. Due to the reforms implemented by the TDP Government, AP became power surplus in 2018 by generating nearly 15,000 MW. AP Transco and AP Genco also received recognition at the national level for the good work done by them during the TDP regime.

Naidu said the YSRCP Government put a burden of Rs32,166 crore by revising power tariff multiple times, true-up charges, duty and other levies. He also found fault with the previous government for borrowing to the tune of Rs49,596 crore under the pretext of implementing reforms in the energy sector. The total debt has mounted to a whopping Rs1.29 lakh crore.

The Chief Minister said several agreements were signed with a malafide interest and the power sector incurred a loss of Rs47,741 crore due to wrong policies and promised to take the assistance of the Centre to improve the power sector and ensure supply quality power 24x7.

He said by creating awareness among the people on the challenges posed to the energy sector, he wanted to seek their suggestions to overcome the losses being incurred by the government.

Naidu said their focus will be on production of green hydrogen and non-conventional energy resources and encourage electric vehicles in a big way and ridiculed the investment made by AP Genco and AP Transco in the liquor bonds floated by AP State Beverages Corporation.