Nellore: Tirupati MP Maddila Gurumurthy and district collector S. Venkateswar on Saturday stressed the need to expand awareness of power schemes and ensure electricity subsidies reach all eligible beneficiaries.
At the District Electricity Committee review meeting held at the Collectorate in Tirupati, Gurumurthy directed officials to ensure that no eligible farmer or worker is left out of subsidy benefits. He raised concerns over issues faced by powerloom workers in Narayanavanam and aqua farmers in Chittamuru mandal due to gaps in subsidy coverage, and called for immediate corrective action.
The collector highlighted progress under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), aimed at separating domestic and agricultural power lines. Of the Rs 643 crore project, works worth Rs 140 crore have been completed, with 211 of the 450 feeders finished.
He said around 4,500 rooftop solar connections have been provided under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, while 2,600 free solar installations for SC/ST households have been completed under the ULA model against a target of 36,000. The PM Kusum Yojana is being implemented to provide daytime solar power for agriculture.
Both leaders emphasised the need for village-level awareness campaigns, improved urban outreach for solar schemes, and feasibility studies for solar projects near tank bunds. They also suggested installing automatic street lighting systems in villages to reduce power losses and improve efficiency.