Powering a Family Empire? Chandrababu Govt's Mega Allocations Raise Eyebrows
In Andhra Pradesh, all the power (authority) lies with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. It is well known to everyone that his son Nara Lokesh also holds significant control. Though there are other partners in the government, their roles appear to be limited. Since coming to power, both of them have been functioning in a manner that suggests "everything should happen as we wish." Whether it is contracts or power projects, there are widespread allegations that they are being given only to their preferred people. There are many examples right before our eyes supporting this. In fact, some companies are being set up just to allocate thousands of megawatts worth of power projects. What's strange here is that there are criticisms saying that the Chandrababu government seems to be completely handing over the Andhra Pradesh power sector to one family. Until recently, the government allocated four large power projects to the uncle’s company... now it is reportedly preparing to allocate another power project to the son-in-law's company as well.
Who are this uncle and son-in-law, you ask? He is none other than Navayuga Visweshwar Rao... his son-in-law is Raghu Rayala. It has been just a year since the coalition government came to power in Andhra Pradesh. Within this year, the Chandrababu government has so far allocated power projects with a combined capacity of 5,360 megawatts across various districts under the names of Navayuga Engineering and Chinta Green Energy. These include pumped storage hydro power projects as well as solar projects. In the case of Chinta Green Energy, it is unclear whether the company was properly established, yet they kept on securing projects. Now, as if those weren't enough, the government has reportedly approved the allocation of another 800 megawatt pumped storage power project to RVR Projects, which belongs to Navayuga Visweshwar Rao's son-in-law Rayala Raghu. According to official sources, this was approved during a recent SIPC meeting held by Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Vijay Anand.
Adding this as well, it means companies belonging to the uncle and son-in-law together have been allotted power projects totaling a massive 6,160 megawatts in Andhra Pradesh. If one thinks it ends here, they are mistaken. In the capital city Amaravati itself, RVR Projects has already been allotted eight works worth nearly ₹4,377 crores. Now, as if that isn’t sufficient, they are preparing to allocate a power project as well. There are widespread criticisms that all of this is progressing according to a single agenda. In addition to these, it is also being reported in official circles that several companies are being used as benamis in some mining dealings as well. Another strange thing here is that Chinta Green Energy, which has secured thousands of megawatts of power projects in AP, doesn’t even have a website ready till now. When searched on Google, it shows "Launching Soon." That means, first they bag projects worth thousands of crores and with thousands of megawatts capacity, and then they do the basic tasks like launching a website. After all, if the person allotting is one of their own, who needs a website... even if the company is registered later, projects seem to be given first.
