Durga Temple Power Cut Sparks Outrage
A sudden power disruption at the famous Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada has sparked a major political storm across Andhra Pradesh. The incident, which occurred during a time of heavy devotee influx, left the hilltop shrine without regular electricity for nearly 15 minutes.While temple authorities quickly switched to backup generators to keep darshan running, the outage has raised serious questions about administrative oversight.
The controversy stems from a deep-rooted billing dispute between the Temple Board and the State Power Department.Reports indicate that the temple has outstanding electricity dues amounting to over ₹3 crore. This debt has accumulated since February 2023. In response, the power utility recently took the extreme step of disconnecting the high-tension line, citing a lack of payment despite multiple prior notices.
However, the temple management has presented a different side of the story. They argue that the shrine contributes significantly to the state’s energy needs through its solar power plants. Under an existing agreement, the temple supplies around 24 MW of solar energy to the state grid for free. In return, they expected free power for specific temple services, a claim that the electricity department is now challenging with new billing procedures.
Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar has expressed strong displeasure over the incident. He clarified that the disruption was not a technical failure but a result of poor coordination between the Energy and Endowments departments.The Minister stated that such lapses during peak pilgrimage hours are unacceptable and hurt the sentiments of thousands of devotees who visit the sacred Indrakeeladri hill.
Political reactions have been swift, with opposition leaders accusing the government of neglecting the maintenance of prominent religious institutions. In response, the state government has ordered a high-level inquiry.A special review meeting is scheduled for early January to resolve the billing deadlock and ensure that such “coordination gaps” never leave the deity’s abode in the dark again.
