Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao alleged that the Congress government was conspiring to end free power farmers receive by introducing prepaid electricity meters and pushing the electricity sector towards privatisation.
Speaking at a party meeting in Amberpet on Sunday, Rama Rao strongly opposed the State government’s reported decision to replace existing electricity meters with prepaid meters in rural and urban areas, including agricultural connections. He urged the public to resist the move.
KTR claimed that the Congress government was encouraging private sector participation in the electricity sector with the long-term objective of handing over operations to corporate entities. According to him, the installation of prepaid meters for agricultural pump sets was the first step towards removing the free power farmers currently receive.
The BRS leader recalled that his party had warned during the Assembly elections that free electricity for farmers would face a threat if the Congress came to power. He said former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had resisted pressure from the Centre to install prepaid meters despite alleged restrictions on loans worth Rs 30,000 crore.
KTR targets Congress over free power farmers issue
Rama Rao alleged that the Congress government planned to roll out prepaid electricity meters within three months. He appealed to people to oppose the move politically before prepaid meters reached every household and agricultural motor connection.
The former minister also accused the Congress government of corruption, administrative failures, and failing to implement election promises despite completing nearly half of its tenure. He claimed public dissatisfaction with the government was increasing across the state.
On Hyderabad civic issues, KTR criticised demolitions carried out under HYDRAA operations. He alleged that while the previous BRS government constructed houses for poor families, the present administration was demolishing homes and leaving residents homeless.
He also targeted Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy over the proposed Future City project. According to Rama Rao, the government was neglecting existing urban infrastructure and essential civic services while making ambitious promises about future developments.
Regarding the Musi river rejuvenation project, KTR said the previous BRS government had already initiated major sewage treatment plant works. He accused the Congress government of using the project for contracts and commissions while carrying out large-scale demolitions that were affecting residents.
Rama Rao announced that the BRS would soon begin digital membership enrollment drives and organise training programmes for party workers in all constituencies. He added that the party would give priority to leaders actively involved in public issues while selecting candidates for upcoming municipal corporation elections in Hyderabad.