Deputy CLP leader in Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Wednesday demanded that the State Government withdraw the proposed hike in power tariff in Telangana State.
Addressing a press conference in Assembly premises here, Shabbir said that the two Discoms – Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Ltd (TSSPDCL) and Telangana State Northern Power Distribution Company Ltd (TSNPDCL) have filed their Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) and tariff hike proposals with the Telangana State Electricity Regulatory Commission (TSERC). He said that the proposed hike would impose a burden of Rs 1088.88 Crore on the common people.
Reminding that before elections, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao had promised to reduce the tariff hike, Shabbir Ali said that the State Government should at least ensure that tariff is not hiked. He dismissed the contentions of State Government that the DISCOMs would be in deficit if the tariff is not hiked, he claimed that Telangana had a surplus budget of Rs 7,581 Crore at the time of its formation. He accused the TRS Government of mishandling the State finances which consequently pushed Telangana into bankruptcy. He alleged that the government was trying to put the burden of its mismanagement on the common people.
Shabbir Ali said that the TRS Government was indulging in mud-slinging on Congress party and wrongly blaming its regime for the present energy crisis in Telangana. He said all the existing power projects were started during the Congress regime and the present TRS Government failed to take up even a single project in the last eight months. He said that the Congress had laid a strong foundation to meet the energy needs of Telangana, he asked TRS Government to do an honest introspection before leveling allegations. He also claimed that the previous Congress regime hike the power tariff only once in the year 2013.
The Congress leader warned the State Government of launching massive agitation if it fails to withdraw the proposed hike in power tariff. (INN)