‘If the government increases production, there is no need to buy electricity’
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has named its national president N. In a meeting chaired by Chandrababu Naidu on Monday expressed concern over the power tariff in Andhra Pradesh, saying it is the highest as compared to other southern states.
The people were burdened by more than Rs 36,000 crore due to increase in electricity charges in the state. The artificial power shortage was created for huge commissions by purchasing power in the open market. Andhra Pradesh was power surplus when YSRCP came to power. Before 2014, the state was ensuring a deficit of 22.5 million units. However, the TDP government has achieved the target of generating 10,000 MW of additional power.
TDP leaders observed that there was no need for the state to buy power at ₹15 to ₹20 per unit as power generation increased. “The government and its undertakings are owed ₹22,000 crore as dues to DISCOMs for urgently solving the problem. In 2014, the then TDP government had solved the problem of power cut in just three months. But, it appears that there is no solution in sight now,” he said.
Referring to the installation of electricity meters for agriculture connections, the TDP slammed the government’s way of “tightening the noose around the farmers”.
“Unscheduled power cuts are giving a huge blow to all sections of the people. There is no money to buy coal. Electricity is being cut off in government schools for non-payment of bills.
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