VIJAYAWADA: The electricity supply for Krishnamma Harati was cut off by the electricity department as the Kanaka Durga temple authorities have failed to pay the bill. The issue has become a controversy between APSPDCL and the temple authorities as the former has issued the bill to the temple. Krishnamma Harati has become a costly affair for Durga temple as it has spent nearly '25 lakh for conducting it daily at Ibrahimpatnam, where the Godavari and Krishna rivers meet.
What makes things worse for the temple is that the Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (APSPDCL) has sent nearly '12 lakh bill to the temple towards the power connection and utilisation charges. The state government has decided to continue the Harati programme as a daily affair even after the Krishna Pushkaralu and entrusted the responsibility to the Kanaka Durga temple authorities.
For the Harati programme, the APSPDCL has provided 185KVA HT line. Since then, 1 lakh units of power was utilised for the event. As the Harati programme is being conducted by the Durga temple, the APSPDCL has sent the power bill to the temple authorities. But the temple authorities are arguing that they are only performing the ritual as per the government's instructions and till now no funds have been issued. Temple executive officer A. Surya Kumari said the temple is already spending a lot on the Harati programme and it is unfair to charge the temple. “We have asked for a separate meter only for Harati program as the line is being used for many other purposes.” The temple authorities and Transco officials are demanding the intervention of CMO to resolve the issue.
