Finding fault with Minor Irrigation Minister T G Venkatesh for defending himself on his remarks against IAS officers, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has reiterated that the leaders, particularly, who were in ruling party, have to behave in a responsible manner. Whatever it may be the meaning of his (TG Venkatesh’s) remarks, but one should be careful about his remarks.
Speaking to the media after the meeting of Congress MLAs on Presidential election at Jubilee Hall, the Chief Minister said that the journalists were cooking up stories alleging that rift between the PCC Chief and him was widening whenever they wanted news. He said that the government would sort out the gaps in the Indiramma Bata program if any. He also said that there was no Indiramma Bata program this week as there was Presidential election. He said that he would cover 100 segments along with the Ministers as part of Indiramma Bata program.
Responding on imposition of electricity surcharge on power consumers in the State, the Chief Minister said that the present surcharge was of the year 2009-10 and there was a gap of Rs.11,000 crores. The people have to pay Rs 5000 crores and the remaining Rs 6000 crores will be paid by the government. The Chief Minister hoped that there may not be any surcharge on power consumers next year.
He said that the State government was purchasing coal at extra charges from Coal India Ltd and Mahanandi Coal Company and due to this purchase, the government imposed power surcharge on people. The government was imposing surcharge following the guidelines of ERC. The price of power per unit was Rs.1.60 paisa when the government purchased it from NTPC but it was reached up to Rs.5 per unit due to the demand.
Finding fault with the news story published in a section of newspapers that the State government failed to purchase 100 MW power from Jajjar power project, he said that the Kerala State purchased the same power from Jajjar power project located in Haryana paying high price. “Our State is not in a position to buy the power at such high cost”, he said.
He said that the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) would set up a special line for the State by end of 2013. He said that the State was lagging behind the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in purchasing the power from North-Eastern States. Both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were fast in this regard and were booking the power from North-East states. The power consumption increased 15 percent more in the State and hence the problem was haunting.
He said that the State government urged the Centre to increase the NREGS working days from 100 days to more. He said that it was surprising that East Godavari district too recorded NREGS scheme implementation successful.
Reacting on Supreme Court remarks against the State government with regard to Telangana Lawyers’ issue, he said that the State government would respect the Apex Court’s statement and it will furnish the required details to it. He said that the State government was initiating steps to fill the vacant Doctor posts. He said that only 50 per cent of the doctors were joining and the other posts remained vacant due to lack of doctors. He said that the State government was trying to fill the vacant 400 posts with the local doctors on contract basis.
Responding to another question, he said that former chief minister Dr YSR died as Congress chief minister and one has to respect him. Reacting to the senior Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao’s statement that the Chief Minister has to remove the portrait of Dr YSR kept in CM’s Camp Office, Kiran Kumar Reddy said that Dr YSR’s portrait was kept by the then chief minister Dr K Rosaiash during the birth anniversary of Dr YSR.
—NSS