Durga temple electricity bill dispute resolved after ministerial intervention

Vijayawada: The long-standing electricity bill dispute involving Kanaka Durga temple has been resolved following the intervention of senior ministers, bringing relief to devotees and temple authorities alike. The issue, which triggered concerns over disruption of power supply and the functioning of the temple, reached a turning point after a high-level review meeting at the state secretariat.The meeting was chaired jointly by energy minister Gottipati Ravikumar and endowments minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, who took a firm stand on protecting the sanctity of the temple while ensuring smooth coordination between the departments concerned. The ministers reviewed the issues related to the suspension of power supply to Kanaka Durga Temple and the integration of electricity generated from the temple's solar power plant with the grid. Stressing the need to respect the devotees' sentiments, they directed officials to ensure that such disruptions do not recur in the future.Officials of the power department agreed to install two net meters, each with a capacity of 500 kilowatts, for the 1-megawatt solar power plant belonging to the temple. The move will enable proper accounting of power generated and consumed, paving the way for a more transparent and sustainable energy solution for the temple.In a reciprocal gesture, endowments department officials expressed their willingness to clear the pending electricity dues related to the temple. It was mutually agreed that the outstanding bills would be paid in instalments, ensuring that the financial burden does not affect the temple's regular operations or religious activities. Senior officials of both departments reached a consensus that coordination and communication were essential to avoid similar issues in the future. The ministers underlined that inter-departmental cooperation was in the larger public interest and instructed officials to take decisions keeping the faith of devotees at the forefront. They also emphasised that administrative actions should never disrupt religious practices.The meeting was attended by ACCPDSL CMD P Pullareddy, endowments department commissioner Ramachandra Mohan, temple executive officer Seena Nayak, and senior officials from the power and endowments departments.