Harish questions Bhatti’s silence on true-up burden on consumers

Hyderabad: BRS leader questions Rs 5,420-crore true-up burden, power cuts and under-utilisation of generation capacity

Harish Rao said the Deputy Chief Minister’s press conference did not answer the questions raised by the BRS. Instead, unrelated documents and excuses were presented without providing clear answers, he alleged.

He questioned why the government was not responding to the Rs 5,420 crore true-up charges being imposed on electricity consumers. He said people expected the government to withdraw the additional burden, particularly during the festival season, but were disappointed.

Harish Rao also questioned the government’s claim that there were no power cuts. “If the government is supplying power properly, there is no reason for farmers to stand before substations or stage protests on the roads,” he said.

“Farmers are coming out because they are facing power cuts. How can the government say there are no power cuts when farmers are protesting for electricity?” he asked.

Harish Rao said the Union Ministry of Coal, through its communication dated February 15, 2018, had allocated 14 MTPA of G-9 grade coal from SCCL mines to the Yadadri Thermal Power Station.

“Then why was it claimed that there was no such coal allocation?” he asked.

He also questioned the government over the reported stoppage of 3,000 MW at Yadadri, 540 MW at Bhadradri and 800 MW at Kothagudem Thermal Power Station, asking whether this did not amount to a failure of power management.

The BRS leader said the government had stated that against a total generation capacity of around 140 million units, only 89 million units were being generated.

He asked why the available generation capacity was not being fully utilised.

Harish Rao demanded that the government ensure uninterrupted power supply to farmers and withdraw the Rs 5,420 crore true-up burden on consumers.

He warned that if the government failed to withdraw the additional burden and address the power crisis, the BRS would launch a public movement against the decisions.

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