Bonanza for Telangana power staff

​Hyderabad: It is a big bonanza for employees of power utilities in Telangana. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday announced a 35 per cent pay revision for the employees of all electricity utilities in the state. The CM has also announced a comprehensive health scheme on par with state government employees for the entire staff of the utilities which come under the Energy department.

Addressing a gathering of power utilities' employees at Pragati Bhavan, he praised the workers for extending their services to achieve surplus status in the power sector and ensuring round the clock power supply to all sectors in a matter of four years. The supply of 24-hour power supply to agriculture is not possible without the support of utility employees, he added.

“TS Genco and TS Transco chairman D Prabhakar Rao discussed the pay revision commission issue with me. He told me that PRC recommended a pay revision at 32 per cent and as the last PRC was 30 per cent. He wanted the new PRC should not be less than 30 per cent and I am announcing 35 per cent PRC,” KCR said amidst loud cheers from the gathering. He also instructed the top officials of the Energy department to formulate a liberal health scheme removing the cap on medical expenses.

At present, the employees are availing only Rs 3 lakh medical benefit under the existing health scheme. The regularization of services of Bill Collectors and other staff working on contract basis and the recruitment of new staff to look after the new electricity sub stations will also be done in a phased manner. He held former CM N Chandrababu Naidu responsible for the appointment of staff on contract and outsourcing system in the power sector.