Chandrababu Naidu Slams Jagan Mohan Reddy Government for Corruption and Mismanagement

Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu accused the previous Jagan Mohan Reddy government of looting natural resources and lands. Naidu claimed deforestation and illegal land conversions took place. A whitepaper detailed significant power sector issues, including increased tariffs and investor distrust.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Monday accused the previous Jagan Mohan Reddy government of looting natural resources, creating litigation, and exploiting lands during its tenure. He also alleged deforestation under their administration. 'We have identified records of their corruption,' he declared.

Naidu asserted that throughout the state, significant urban lands were looted. Assigned lands were reportedly distributed to non-beneficiaries, and a modus operandi was in place to loot these lands. He cited an instance where Tollywood director Ramanaidu was granted land in Visakhapatnam during the TDP regime, which was allegedly converted illegally for residential use under YSRCP's rule. Lands belonging to Sarada Peetam were also reportedly looted.

Earlier on July 9, the Andhra Pradesh government under Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu released a whitepaper discussing the power sector's status and raised allegations against the previous Jagan Mohan Reddy government. The whitepaper highlighted a substantial rise in power tariffs for consumers, increased debts of state power utilities, and losses due to inefficient governance.

According to the whitepaper, total loans of Andhra Pradesh power utilities surged from Rs 62,826 crore in 2018-19 to Rs 112,422 crore in 2023-24, marking a 79 percent growth. The average tariff for domestic consumers increased by 45 percent, from Rs. 3.87 per unit to Rs 5.63 per unit under the Reddy government. It also noted significant delays in commissioning key thermal power plants, leading to additional burdens of Rs 12,818 crore.

The document highlighted the delay in commissioning the Polavaram Hydro Electric Project. Initially awarded in December 2017 with an expected start date of May 2023, the project's deadline has now been extended to January 2026 due to contract termination and ongoing arbitration. The whitepaper estimated an expected loss of up to Rs 1,500 crore and a price variation impact of Rs 350 crore. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)