KCR decides to waive Rs. 423-cr Power, Water bills arrears under GHMC

Hyderabad: In a significant development to woo people under GHMC, which is going to polls this month or next month, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today announced waiver of Rs 423 crore arrears of power and water bills. However, the Chief Minister cautiously refrained from releasing a GO as it violates code of conduct of MLC elections.
The Chief Minister took a decision to waive the arrears of power bills and water bills amounting to a total of Rs 423 crore. The waiver includes Rs 128 crore electricity bills and Rs 295 crore water bills. With this, some six lakh families under the GHMC purview will benefit.
Earlier, the Chief Minister held a meeting with the ministers of Greater Hyderabad like Nayani Narsimha Reddy, Talasani Srinivas Yadav, T. Padma Rao Goud and officials of water and power departments. He discussed with them on the issue and reportedly took a decision to waive the total amount put at Rs 423 crore. KCR also felt that the poor people using 50 units to 100 units and above power are not in a position to pay the bills and the step will help them. Some 3 lakh poor people living in the GHMC area are to benefit from this step. The waiver should boost them to offer better services and not for seeking any benefit, he said. Since election code exists, KCR asked the officials not to release a GO in this regard. The government will issue a GO after the MLC elections, he added. (NSS)