Kurnool to produce 60% of India's gold: Chandrababu

Measures to tackle West Asia war impact

■ Energy and Infrastructure: Naidu promoted the use of green energy to reduce dependence on foreign fuel, suggesting the installation of rooftop solar units on every home and field. He also advocated for work-from-home (WFH) models to further reduce fuel use.

■ Austerity in Governance: In a bid to set a public example, the CM advised public representatives to scale back security covers and reduce the number of vehicles in their convoys.

■ Industrial Momentum: Highlighting major projects, Naidu set a one-year completion deadline for the newly founded medical college and skill centre at Nidamarru. He issued similar directives for the Google data centre and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel projects in Vizag.

Metro India News | Nidamarru

In a major push for economic self-sufficiency, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced on Wednesday that the state is poised to become a national leader in gold production. A new gold mine in Kurnool district is scheduled for inauguration this June, with the potential to produce up to 60 percent of the gold made in India.

"When you import all the gold, foreign exchange will go out. If we can produce gold domestically, that problem can be reduced," the Chief Minister stated, emphasizing that domestic production is critical to protecting the country's foreign exchange reserves.

The announcement came as Naidu outlined the state's strategy to mitigate the economic fallout from the ongoing West Asia conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran. The Chief Minister confirmed that a comprehensive package of preventive measures will be unveiled within the next two days to safeguard the state’s economy from the effects of the war.

Echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal for austerity, Naidu urged citizens to act responsibly to strengthen the national economy. He specifically called on the public to avoid unnecessary gold purchases and foreign travel, while also suggesting a reduction in petrol and diesel consumption to save foreign exchange.

The Chief Minister also touched upon healthcare, encouraging youth to pursue nursing and paramedical training to meet global demand and expanding digital health records through the Sanjeevani platform.