Harish Rao alleged Telangana power supply mismanagement by Congress government
Hyderabad: Former minister and BRS Deputy Floor Leader T. Harish Rao on Tuesday accused the Congress government of mismanaging Telangana power supply and failing to protect farmers.
Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan, Rao alleged that several thermal power plants were operating below capacity or had stopped generation. He claimed the 4,000-MW Yadadri Thermal Power Plant was generating only about 400 MW. The plant has five 800-MW units, giving it a total capacity of 4,000 MW.
Rao alleged that the plant was using lower-grade G13 and G14 coal instead of the required G10 or G11 grades. He also claimed that generation had stopped at the 800-MW Kothagudem plant and the 540-MW Bhadradri plant.
Moreover, Rao questioned reports of a coal shortage. He claimed that around 40 lakh metric tonnes of coal reserves were available.
Telangana power supply claims included NTPC, Singareni
Rao also raised questions over 1,600 MW of electricity supplied by NTPC. He said the previous BRS government had facilitated the first 800-MW phase. In addition, he questioned the government’s decision to enter into a power purchase agreement with Rajasthan.
Rao argued that power generated by Singareni was available within Telangana and questioned why the government needed the Rajasthan agreement. The BRS leader also alleged that farmers were suffering crop losses because of inadequate Telangana power supply.
He claimed farmers were not receiving the promised seven to eight hours of electricity. Rao had made similar allegations about power cuts during a visit to a substation in Yadadri-Bhongir on September 20.
Harish Rao raised Krishna water issue
Rao also accused the government of failing to protect Telangana’s interests in Krishna water allocation and use. He alleged that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was diverting Srisailam water towards Kuppam, which Rao described as outside the Krishna basin.
The BRS leader claimed the Telangana government had failed to secure adequate water for projects and farmers within the basin. Rao had also recently questioned the government’s utilisation of Krishna water and demanded irrigation supplies for farmers.
He alleged that the Congress government was failing to protect farmers’ interests on both electricity and irrigation. Therefore, Rao demanded corrective measures to address power supply problems and ensure adequate irrigation water for farmers.