K Chandrasekhar Rao doubles power sop for STs, SCs

Hyderabad: With the decision of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to enhance free power supply to SCs and STs for domestic use from 50 units to 100 units per month, the additional financial burden on the state exchequer will be around Rs 50 crore. This will benefit to about 4 lakh SC and ST domestic consumers.

There are around 4.84 lakh SC and ST domestic consumers in the state. In this 3.2 lakh are SC consumers and 1.64 lakh are ST consumers. At present state government is supplying free power supply to SC and ST domestic consumers 50 units per month. For this the state government is paying '26 crore per year to power utilities. Now the state government will supply free power to these consumers up to 200 units per month.  

TS TRANSCO and GENCO chairman Devulapally Prabhakar Rao said by enhancing the free power supply, the government has to pay around Rs 75 crore to Rs 80 crore, but it will will benefit about 4 lakh SC and ST domestic consumers. Meanwhile Telangana state southern power distribution Company (TSSPDCL) chairman and managing director G. Raghuma Reddy said up to 50 units they are charging Rs 1.45 per unit.  He said with the enhancement to 100 units, the slab will change and have to pay Rs 2.60 per unit, but the move will bring more SC and ST domestic consumers under the fold.