Amid power woes, Andhra ministers run up huge bills

Amerland

Editor

posted on 12 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Even as Andhra CM Kiran Kumar Reddy preaches power saving to outage ravaged people across the state, ministers and state-supported VIPs are running up monthly electricity bills of several thousand rupees, paid entirely by the Roads and Buildings Department.

Even as chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy preaches power saving to outage ravaged people across the state, ministers and state-supported VIPs are running up monthly electricity bills of several thousand rupees, paid entirely by the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department.

Galla Aruna tops the list of cabinet ministers toting up huge power bills, with Rs 62,657 in July.

Opposition leader Chandrababu Naidu - whose bill is paid by the government - is no slouch either: his Jubilee Hills residence ran up a bill of Rs 84,352 in July.

The chief minister’s camp office at Begumpet costs the exchequer even more: its monthly power bills are in the region of Rs 1 lakh.

Ministers Mukesh Goud, D K Aruna and Danam Nagender all burnt midnight oil to the tune of Rs 15,000 or more (see graphic).

The chief minister advised people not to use air-conditioners but his ministers have apparently not heard him.

All of them flout a rule not to have more than two ACs in their official residences.

One senior minister has no less than 12. Another enjoys six.

Roads & Buildings officials say the two-AC limit was fixed in the late 1950s and should be revised to four, considering the fact that most ministers now have three-bedroom houses with an office.

“But a dozen ACs? Nothing but a waste of public money,” fumed an R&B official.

Whenever a minister has sought permission to install additional ACs at his residence, R&B staff do remind the government about the two AC rule. But the government always vetoes the objection.

Whatever the excess, it is the people who pay for it. One minister, a big industrialist, constructed a sprawling house that clocks up a large power bill - paid by the people.

Some ministers have multiple power connections - again paid by the people.

“The government should fix a maximum limit for power consumption by ministers. If the government fixes Rs 20,000 per month, any bill above that should be borne by the minister,” an R&B official said.

The suggestion has been sent to the government recently. However, no action has been taken.