Minister for Energy Gottipati Ravi Kumar and Minister for Social Welfare Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy laying foundation stone for a road project at Giddaluru in Prakasam district.
| Photo Credit: BY ARRANGEMENT
In a significant step towards empowering the weaver community in Andhra Pradesh, the government has allocated ₹125 crore to provide free electricity up to 200 units for handloom weavers and up to 500 units for powerloom weavers, benefiting thousands of weaving households across the State, said Minister for Energy Gottipati Ravi Kumar.
This initiative will officially commence on Weavers’ Day, August 7, reinforcing the government’s commitment to support traditional industries and ensure economic stability for artisan families. He made the announcement during his visit to Giddaluru constituency of Prakasam district on Monday (August 04) evening, along with Social Welfare Minister Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy.
The two ministers laid foundation stones and inaugurated several key development works in the constituency, including CC roads worth ₹1.33 crore in Cumbum, ₹70 lakh in Kandulapuram, ₹40 lakh in Hazarat Gudem, and development works worth ₹1.83 crore in Bestavaripeta. A foundation stone was laid for 33/11 KV substation at Kasinepalli village in Komarolu mandal to be built at an estimated ₹3.60 crore.
Another 33/11 KV substation was inaugurated at Medamvaripalli village in Racharla mandal with ₹3.90 crore. A major 220 KV substation is also under construction at Yerragondapalem, with an investment of ₹66 crore. The government is supplying power to aquaculture farmers in the State at ₹1.50 per unit, the Minister informed.
Mr. Gottipati assured that Markapuram will be declared a separate district soon. Reiterating the government’s commitment to farmers’ development, he said: “Gundlakamma project gates, which were damaged during the previous regime, have been restored, ensuring water supply to the farms. Annadata Sukhibhava scheme is being implemented to support farmers with investment aid.”
Criticising the previous YSR Congress Party administration, he accused former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy of launching welfare schemes only to mask large-scale scams, particularly the liquor scam, which resulted in the loss of many innocent lives due to substandard alcohol. “The YSRCP government played with people’s lives for their selfish political gain,” he alleged.
Published – August 05, 2025 05:23 pm IST
