Hyderabad: The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has demanded that the Congress government withdraw its proposal to establish a separate Rythu power distribution company limited (TGRPDCL) for farmers. The party alleged that the proposal is a deliberate attempt to eventually dismantle the 24x7 free power supply currently being provided to farmers in Telangana, a scheme unmatched anywhere else in the country.
BRS leaders submit objections
Representing the party before the Telangana Electricity Regulatory Commission (TGERC) during the public hearing on the proposal on Friday, former ministers G Jagadish Reddy and Singireddy Niranjan Reddy strongly opposed the move and submitted detailed objections.
The BRS leaders argued that the proposed “Rythu Power Distribution Company” is not intended to serve farmers’ interests. Instead, they alleged that it is part of a larger strategy to gradually withdraw power subsidies to the agricultural sector and pave the way for privatisation of electricity distribution. They warned that the proposed farmers’ discom could ultimately become a mechanism that pushes farmers into uncertainty and hardship rather than supporting them.
KCR government's record recalled
Jagadish Reddy recalled that during the BRS government, under the leadership of K Chandrashekar Rao, Telangana successfully ensured uninterrupted, high-quality 24-hour power supply not only to farmers but also to domestic, commercial and industrial consumers. He alleged that the real objective behind the proposed third discom TGRPDCL was to separate revenue-generating consumers from subsidised agricultural connections, thereby isolating the agricultural sector and creating conditions for future privatisation. Such a move, he said, would fragment the power distribution system and adversely affect farmers.
Jagadish Reddy further pointed out that any structural reform in the power sector requires the approval of the TGERC. He criticised the government for announcing a launch date for the new discom even before obtaining the regulator’s approval, describing it as an affront to the authority and independence of the ERC.
Kavitha accuses government of conspiracy
Telangana Rakshana Sena (TRS) president Kalvakuntla Kavitha, who presented her objection at the public hearing, said the state government was conspiring against the farmers in the name of the third discom. She recalled that when the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was in power, there were massive protests by farmers in 1999 and advised the government not to repeat past incidents. While asking the TGERC to reject the proposal for setting up TGRPDCL, she demanded that the government move forward on the proposal after discussing the issue in the state assembly. The former MP also questioned why the government had created a discom with Rs 25,000 crore losses while launching it. She further demanded that the government hold public hearings in all 33 districts of Telangana.
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About the Author
Koride Mahesh has been working with the Times of India, Hyderabad for over two decades. He is currently senior assistant editor of TOI, Hyderabad. He holds a PhD (doctorate) in Journalism and has a total of 32 years of experience in print journalism. He extensively writes on urban infrastructure, projects, civic issues, real estate market, land issues, energy, irrigation and state government administration in Telangana. He also covers state political developments, especially BRS.
