KCR, Jana Reddy spar over power issue

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader K Jana Reddy had heated arguments over power issue in the Assembly on Friday.

While responding to a doubt expressed by Jana Reddy, Chief Minister said there would not be free power supply once the irrigation projects were completed in the State. He also said the State government would decide maintenance service after completion of Mission Bhagiratha scheme.

It all began when Finance Minister Eatala Rajender said it was not proper on the part of the Opposition parties to make baseless allegations against the government. The government was moving forward considering all issues carefully, he said and added that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government introduced the budget of ‘life’ but not with lust for ‘power’ like the Congress.

At this juncture, the Chief Minister interfered and took the mike from the Finance Minister. Targeting Jana Reddy, the Chief Minister said the State government had alleged that Jana Reddy read the script given by someone. The Congress leaders were jealous over the TRS government and criticising as they wished.

“The State government was getting Rs 12,000 crore from the Uday scheme and there is no problem for the power sector,” he said. The Chief Minister also faulted Jana Reddy to ask where the sheep would be reared in the State. He said the government had its plans in this regard.

Chandrashekar Rao also said it was not proper to BJLP leader G Kishan Reddy to say that the scheme of giving sheep to Yadava community was with the help of Central funds. The State government was spending all funds from its exchequer for sheep giving scheme and not a single paisa was being availed from the Centre for the scheme, he asserted.

Reacting to it, Jana Reddy said the Congress was not jealous of the TRS government. “Is it true whether power Discoms are in deficit or not? The State government has to pay Rs 10,000 crore arrears to Discoms and the government is providing Rs 4,500 crore to Discoms.

How will the State government fill the deficit, by increasing power tariffs or in any other way? I said there was danger with Chhattisgarh power agreement and there is a need to be careful. I only asked to know the MBC castes list and that doesn’t mean I am opposing the allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for MBCs.

I asked the government not to turn the sheep giving scheme as a double-bedroom houses scheme,” Jana Reddy said. Then the Chief Minister said the State government was very much aware about the power issues. The State government was very keen on it. The then Congress government had neglected the power sector.

“We are successful with regard to supplying power to people. The Congress government had utterly failed in supplying power to people. There is no need of free power supply once the irrigation projects are completed in the State. One can see water everywhere in the State once the proposed irrigation projects are completed,” the Chief Minister added.