ANDHRA PRADESH: Power Cut Hits Vijayawada’s Kanaka Durga Temple Over Dues
Visitors to the famous Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam on Indrakeeladri hill in Vijayawada faced a surprise on Saturday, December 27, 2025.
Electricity officials from APCPDCL disconnected power for several hours, starting around morning and lasting into the afternoon.
The reason cited was unpaid bills totaling about Rs 3.08 crore, with dues reportedly piling up since February 2023 despite repeated notices.
Backup Measures Kept Operations Running
Temple staff quickly switched to generators to maintain essential services. This ensured smooth darshan, functioning lifts, lighting in the inner sanctum, and other devotee facilities without major disruption.
No major complaints arose from pilgrims, as the backup power handled the peak hours effectively.
Ministerial Intervention and Restoration
Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy took immediate note and contacted Energy Minister Gottipati Ravikumar.
Their discussion led to prompt restoration of full supply later in the day after talks between temple and power department officials.
Both sides acknowledged the sensitivity of disrupting a major pilgrimage spot.
Underlying Billing Dispute
Temple authorities plan to meet senior Endowments officials soon to clear part of the dues.
They also intend to push for accurate accounting of electricity generated from their solar plant and fed into the grid.
Some reports highlight a two-year solar agreement where the temple supplies power, potentially offsetting bills through net metering, which remains unresolved.
Quick Resolution Amid Public Attention
The incident drew attention online and in local media but ended without escalation. It underscores ongoing challenges in managing utilities for high-footfall religious sites while balancing financial accountability.