Hyderabad, May 31(RAHNUMA): Former Minister and BRS Deputy Floor Leader Harish Rao strongly opposed the state government’s proposal to establish a new “Rythu Discom”.
He criticised Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s approach and raised several concerns regarding the future of Telangana’s power sector.
Addressing the media at his camp office in Siddipet on Sunday, Harish Rao said the Chief Minister’s claim that RP-DISCOM is being created to provide 24-hour free electricity to farmers is completely false.
“Instead of ensuring free power, RP-DISCOM will become a noose around the neck of Telangana’s agriculture sector,” he said.
The BRS leader stated that during the public hearing before the ERC, the Congress party officially conveyed through Farmers’ Commission Chairman Kodanda Reddy that three hours of electricity was sufficient for farmers. He reminded that Revanth Reddy had also made similar remarks in the past.
“I challenge the Chief Minister to take an oath that he will seek votes only if he provides 24-hour free electricity to farmers,” Harish Rao said.
He alleged that farmers in Telangana are currently not receiving more than 13 hours of power supply and said the Congress government is preparing to reduce agricultural power supply to 8-9 hours, similar to Gujarat and Karnataka.
Referring to GO No. 8 issued by the government, Harish Rao said it clearly mentions allocating a higher share of renewable energy to TGRPDCL.
“Solar power starts around 7 AM and ends by 5 PM. How can the government claim to provide 24-hour electricity to farmers by depending on daytime solar power alone, while ignoring thermal and hydel power?” he questioned.
Harish Rao warned that this decision would badly affect major lift irrigation projects such as Kaleshwaram, Devadula, Nettempadu, Kalwakurthy, Bhima, Koil Sagar and Seethamma Sagar.
“When floods are available in rivers, motors must run round-the-clock to fill reservoirs. If power is available only during the day, repeated switching on and off will damage motors and affect irrigation,” he said.
Harish Rao also warned that Mission Bhagiratha requires 18 to 20 hours of continuous operation every day to supply drinking water. During rainy and winter seasons, when solar generation is low, drinking water schemes may also face difficulties.
Calling the move a “Tughlaq decision”, Harish Rao said the third discom would create unnecessary complications for farmers. He said that under the Electricity Act, 2003, distribution companies must provide connections to consumers, but the proposed structure would create confusion and additional costs.
He alleged that the creation of the third discom is part of a plan to hand over profitable electricity operations to private companies and gradually weaken free power supply.
