Hyderabad: The BRS, which governed Telangana for nearly 10 years and is currently the Opposition party in the State Assembly, defended its loan record. It asserted that taking loans is a common practice for everyone, even likening it to housewives borrowing items from neighbours.
Former power minister G. Jagadish Reddy, took a swipe at the Congress government in the state over the issue of loans and debts of power utilities in Telangana. “Everybody takes loans. Many do so on a daily basis. People take Rs 90 in the morning for groceries and repay Rs 100 in the evening,” he pointed out. The former minister dismissed the Congress' attempt to portray loan-taking as a unique issue for the BRS, asserting that loans are a routine aspect of life.
Taking on Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who oversees the power and finance portfolios, Jagadish Reddy accused him of exaggerating the loans taken by the BRS government and raising concerns about the use of subcritical technology in the Bhadradri Thermal Power Plant. He argued that the technology is employed in around 39 working and under-construction plants across the country and is a standard practice worldwide. He explained that the decision to use subcritical technology was made in compliance with the law, allowing its use until 2017, and was discussed in the Assembly.
Jagadish Reddy contended that the Deputy Chief Minister and the Congress are highlighting power sector debts and loans because of their inability to manage the power sector. He suggested that the Congress government is attempting to deflect attention from its inability to fulfil promises, such as providing 200 units of free power per month, by levelling allegations against the BRS.
