Sridhar Babu opens ₹9.4 crore power works in Bhupalpally, hits out at BRS on water, welfare
Hyderabad: Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu along with Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, on Tuesday launched a series of development works in Bhupalpally district, including the inauguration of a ₹1.4 crore substation at Chennapur in Gorrikothapalli mandal. He also laid foundation stones for 33/11 kV substations at Manjoor Nagar, Dharmaraopet, and Nawabpet, with a combined allocation of ₹8 crore.
Addressing a public meeting, Sridhar Babu said the Congress government was working on long-term planning to prevent power disruptions and was delivering 24-hour free electricity since assuming office. He said 200 units of free power were being provided to 50 lakh beneficiaries statewide under the six guarantees, with 47,000 households and 46,000 farm families covered in Bhupalpally district alone.
He said the government was planning solar electricity units for women’s self-help groups in coordination with the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister. He also said free electricity for government schools was under consideration.
Despite the financial strain and a debt burden of ₹7 lakh crore left by the previous regime, he said welfare programmes were continuing. “They criticise free bus travel for women go ask the women why it matters,” he said, directly targeting the BRS.
Sridhar Babu accused the previous BRS government of misleading people on irrigation. “They talk proudly about building Medigadda, Sundilla, Annaram, but didn’t give a single drop of water to this region. They diverted it elsewhere,” he said. He added that Godavari water must be given to Telangana first before being sent to Maharashtra or Andhra Pradesh, and said the demand was raised in front of the tribunal itself.
He credited the Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka for approving new AE offices for newly formed mandals and districts. He said district collectors had been instructed to ensure housing benefits under the Indiramma scheme go only to those without any home, with preference based on urgency. “We’ve already told collectors to verify and allocate accordingly,” he said.
On rice subsidy, Sridhar Babu said the Congress had promised fine rice and was delivering it. He said every guarantee made would be fulfilled, even if it takes time. “We’ll fix the financial system. We’ll bring development. But we’ll do it step by step,” he said.
He concluded by assuring that in the next phase, all poor families without housing would be covered under the Indiramma housing programme.