Hyderabad: Former minister and BRS Deputy Floor Leader T. Harish Rao on Tuesday accused the Congress government of mismanaging Telangana’s power supply and failing to provide adequate electricity to farmers. He questioned low generation at thermal plants and the government’s decisions on power purchases.
Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan, Rao alleged that several thermal power plants were operating below capacity or had stopped generation. He claimed the 4,000-MW Yadadri Thermal Power Plant was producing only about 400 MW, while the plant had five 800-MW units. Recent reports have also carried Rao’s allegations about under-utilisation of Yadadri, Bhadradri and Kothagudem generation capacity.
Rao further alleged that Yadadri was using G13 and G14 coal grades instead of the required G10 or G11 grades. He also claimed that generation had stopped at the 800-MW Kothagudem plant and the 540-MW Bhadradri plant.
The BRS leader questioned reports of a coal shortage. He claimed around 40 lakh metric tonnes of coal reserves were available and asked why generation remained affected despite the availability he cited.
Power supply concerns extend to NTPC and Singareni
Rao also questioned the use of 1,600 MW of electricity supplied by NTPC. He said the previous BRS government had facilitated the first 800-MW phase and questioned the current government’s decision to enter into a power purchase agreement with Rajasthan.
The BRS leader argued that power generated by Singareni was available within Telangana. He questioned why the government needed a separate agreement with Rajasthan when local generation could support the State’s requirements.
Rao also alleged that inadequate power supply was causing crop losses for farmers. He claimed farmers were receiving only seven to eight hours of electricity instead of the promised supply.
The allegations form part of Rao’s broader criticism of the Congress government over agricultural power supply. In recent remarks, he has also questioned claims of uninterrupted electricity and cited power interruptions reported by farmers.
Rao had previously raised similar concerns during a visit to a sub-station in Yadadri-Bhongir. He alleged that farmers in the area were receiving only six to seven hours of power and said repeated interruptions and low voltage were affecting irrigation.
The BRS leader then linked the power issue to Telangana’s Krishna water management. He accused the Congress government of failing to protect the State’s interests in the allocation and use of Krishna river water.
Rao alleged that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was diverting Srisailam water towards Kuppam. He described the alleged diversion as an issue affecting Telangana’s Krishna basin interests.
He also claimed that the Telangana government had failed to secure adequate water for projects and farmers in the basin. Rao has separately criticised the government over what he described as low utilisation of Telangana’s available Krishna water.
Rao said the government should take corrective measures on both electricity and irrigation. He argued that farmers needed reliable power for irrigation pumps along with adequate water supplies.
The BRS leader has also previously called for Telangana to operate available lift irrigation pumps and make greater use of Krishna water for irrigation.
