AP govt has disbursed over Rs 68,000cr as welfare pensions: CM Naidu

Metro India News | Punnapuvaripalem

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday said his government has disbursed more than Rs 68,000 crore as welfare pensions since assuming office. Addressing a public meeting at Punnapuvaripalem village in Nellore district, the Chief Minister said the TDP-led government is disbursing Rs 2,712 crore to 62.2 lakh people every month as pensions.

“The people’s government has disbursed Rs 68,598 crore as pensions until now. Every month, Rs 2,712 crore is being disbursed to 62.2 lakh people as pensions,” said the CM. Highlighting the government's performance over the past two years, Naidu said his administration has rebuilt the state and restored the systems that were allegedly weakened by previous government.

Noting that the state government has been able to deliver welfare and development schemes with the help of the Centre, he expressed confidence that Nellore district will emerge as India’s top district in terms of development and wealth creation. He said BPCL is setting up a refinery with Rs 1 lakh crore near Ramayyapatnam, among other investments. Naidu added that Nellore would become a logistics hub through the expansion of state highways, national highways, railway infrastructure and port connectivity.

Stressing the government's focus on irrigation, the CM said a calendar has been released to complete 36 projects. Until now, Rs 24,000 crore has been spent on irrigation projects, said Naidu, promising to complete Veligonda project crucial to Nellore district for providing it with water, among other projects.

Referring to the El Nino effect, he said rainfall has subsided, impacting rivers. But, the CM said reservoirs currently hold 65 percent of their capacity due to last year’s rainfall in Krishna and Godavari rivers. Naidu said the government is contemplating interlinking rivers, underscoring that linking Godavari and Kaveri rivers will help provide water to downstream states.

On rising fuel prices amid the West Asia conflict, Naidu advocated the use of ethanol as alternative to fuel and called on farmers to cultivate crops such as corn, which can support ethanol production. Naidu announced that the foundation for Rayalaseema steel plant will be laid in Kadapa tomorrow and that steel production will start by 2028.

Claiming that the previous YSRCP government had driven industries out of the state, Naidu said the government prevented Hero Motors from moving to Karnataka and is working towards manufacturing motorcycles in Andhra Pradesh. He also accused the opposition party of creating divisions among communities and regions through misinformation campaigns.

Without naming YSRCP supremo Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, Naidu said action against him could be taken swiftly if necessary, but his government would not indulge in "vendetta politics". Further, he advised people to be “careful” with a party like YSRCP.