Despite BRS' Misgovernance, Congress will Provide Reliable Power Supply, says Dy CM
Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who holds the energy portfolio, said that despite the previous BRS government pushing TS discoms into huge losses and debts to the tune of nearly Rs 1.44 lakh crore, the Congress was committed to providing quality and reliable power, including free power to agriculture.
He said the Congress government would overcome the challenges faced by the power sector with a responsible and transparent approach.
Speaking during the debate on the White Paper on the energy department in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, Bhatti said the BRS government lacked vision in planning and executing power projects to meet current and future needs.
Bhatti rubbished former minister T. Harish Rao's claims that the BRS government had increased assets of power utilities from Rs 44,431 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 1,37,571 crore in 2022-23.
“Government departments owe power bills of Rs 28,000 crore, discoms owe arrears of Rs 2,086 crore to Transco and Rs 9,743 crore to Genco. If all the arrears left by the previous BRS government are taken into consideration, the net assets of power utilities will be Rs 1,01,443 crore,” Bhatti said.
Terming BRS’ claims of 24-hour power supply false, he said: “Twenty-four-hour power supply was never provided to the agriculture sector. At the most, they gave power up to 10 to 12 hours per day. During the Assembly polls, they campaigned asking people what they wanted — Congress or current. But people gave a clear verdict stating that they need both Congress and current.”
He also criticised the BRS for failing to execute any major power project in its tenure.
“They have taken up just two projects, at Bhadradri and Yadadri. Of this, Yadadri is still incomplete even after eight years. The one at Bhadradri was commissioned but is of not much use due to its outdated subcritical technology.
It only imposes an additional financial burden on the state government. Yadadri is also based on subcritical technology,” he said.
