The Telangana state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, has approved the state's participation in the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), a central government initiative designed to strengthen power distribution infrastructure and reduce transmission losses. As part of the scheme, pre-paid smart meters will be installed for all consumers except those with agricultural connections.
Cabinet Decisions on RDSS and Housing
The cabinet also gave the green light to the construction of one lakh Indiramma housing units for low-income groups and an additional 30,000 units for middle-income groups in the CURE area, which encompasses 24 assembly constituencies. These decisions are particularly significant as elections to the GHMC, Malkajgiri, and Cyberabad municipal corporations are expected later this year.
Details of RDSS Participation
Housing and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy addressed the media after the cabinet meeting, stating that the decision to join RDSS was not a new development. He explained that the previous BRS government had already signed a tripartite agreement to join RDSS on January 2, 2017, involving the Union power ministry, the Telangana government, and the Southern Power Distribution Company Limited. However, the previous administration did not move forward with the scheme. The Congress government discussed the issue for two days in the assembly before the cabinet approved it. The minister emphasized that the scheme does not involve installing meters for agricultural connections.
Officials clarified that the cost of smart meters would not be passed on to consumers, as the expenditure would be shared between the Centre and the state in a 60:40 ratio. The primary objective of the scheme is to reduce the gap between discom revenue and expenditure. Although annual electricity tariff revisions are reportedly linked to RDSS, officials noted that tariff decisions fall under the jurisdiction of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission. Telangana discoms are expected to receive central funding under the scheme.
Indiramma Housing Scheme Phase I and II
Minister Srinivas Reddy further stated that the cabinet approved the launch of Phase I of the Indiramma Housing Scheme in the CURE area, with the construction of one lakh low-income group flats and 30,000 middle-income group units. He added that Phase I of the housing scheme had already been completed in rural areas, while Phase II would be launched by the Chief Minister on June 1 in Asifabad district.
As part of the Phase II rollout, the cabinet approved the construction of 2.5 lakh Indiramma houses across the state, with 2,000 houses allotted to each assembly constituency. The cabinet also decided to complete unfinished Indiramma houses that were initiated during the Congress government in undivided Andhra Pradesh but were stalled at various stages of construction. Financial assistance of Rs 3 lakh will be provided for houses where only the foundation has been completed and walls or roof slabs remain pending. Houses with completed walls but pending roof slabs will receive Rs 2 lakh assistance. To facilitate the completion of such pending houses, the cabinet approved funding support for 500 houses in each constituency.
