KCR’s claims on power supply are ridiculous: Uttam

Huzurnagar: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has ridiculed Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao for his claims on enhancing power supply in Telangana State.

Addressing "Atmeeya Sammelan" held for Congress workers of Kodad and Huzurnagar constituencies in Huzurnagar on Monday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Chief Minister's claims on energy sector were totally misleading. "CM is trying to take credit for the achievements of Congress party. He is just switching on the projects which were started during Congress regime. TRS Government has played no role in resolving the energy crisis," he said.

"CM should clarify whether any power projects started during TRS regime has generated even one unit of power. All the projects were started during Congress regime and KCR is only taking the advantage of being in power," he said.

The construction of Rs. 8,250 Crore STTP (1200 MW) began during Congress regime on November 11, 2011. While its first unit was commissioned on September 25, 2016, the second unit became operational on December 2, 2016. Similarly, the 600 MW from Kakatiya Thermal Power Plant is from the second unit which was commissioned in January 2016. Its first unit of 500 MW was already commissioned on February 1, 2009 during Congress regime. The construction of Lower Jurala Hydro Electric Project (6x40 MW) began on November 13, 2008 at a cost of Rs. 1,475 Crore and the first and second units were already commissioned in December 2013 and January 2014. The other units were commissioned after formation of Telangana State. The Pulichintala power project too was constructed during Congress regime.

Jeypore, Bhupapally, Jurala, Pulichintala were sanctioned and reached the advanced stage of construction during Congress regime only.

"KCR's claims on Telangana being the first State to provide 24-hour supply to farm sector are also wrong as Kerela and Madhya Pradesh are already doing it. For agriculture sector, more than 24-hour power supply, farmers need remunerative prices for their crops which KCR has failed to do so far...

According to a report of Central Electricity Authority released in May this year, barring six states and a union territory (Chandigarh), all other parts of the country will have surplus power in the current financial year 2017-18. While most of the States had huge power deficit in 2011-12, the situation changed drastically in 2017-18 with many states having surplus power including Maharashtra - 3065 MW (+14.8%), Tamil Nadu - 2227 (+14.7%) and Andhra Pradesh - 245 (+3%). The same report says that Telangana will have a deficit of -10.1% due to shortage of 931 MW during peak in the current financial years. As against the peak requirement of 9,196 MW, it has the availability of 8,265 MW. Barring six States and one union territory, rest of the country is now power surplus due to the initiatives of Congress Government from 2004-2014.

"The Chief Minister is falsely staking claims on the achievements of previous Congress regime," he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy thanked the people of Kodad and Huzurnagar for electing him and his wife Padmavathi Reddy as MLAs. He said people of Kodad have been supporting him since 1999 when he was elected as MLA for the first time. Stating that he had no children, but he treats every person in Kodad and Huzurnagar as his family member. Listing out his major achievements as MLA, he said it was due to his efforts that a 100-bedded hospital and a government degree college were started in Huzurnagar. Central lighting, Mattepally Bridge, vast road network, irrigation facilities, sub-stations, drinking water, schools, etc., are his other achievements. He said any person in any of village in either Kodad or Huzurnagar would endorse his works. He said both Huzurnagar and Kodad have emerged as model constituencies in terms of development.

He said he would fight for the rights of people till his last breath in the same way he fought for the country while he was with Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot. He said over 15,000 Congress workers gathered for "Atmeeya Sammelan" by an invite sent through SMS. "This shows your love towards us and we are quite honoured to be associated with you," he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Congress party would come to power in 2019 and it would waive off crop loans up to Rs. 2 lakh in a single take besides providing remunerative prices for all the crops. He also announced that there would be a hike in Aasra pension amount, Kalyana Laxmi and other schemes.

Led by Yepuri Somanna, members of 'Samskrutika Sena' enthralled the audience with their folk songs and dance on failures of TRS Government and achievements of Congress party.