Harish Rao charges Congress govt with Rs 50,000 crore power scam for commissions

Harish Rao accused the Congress government of pushing the Ramagundam Thermal Power Project for commissions, claiming it would impose an additional Rs.82,000-crore burden on Telangana over 25 years. He also criticised alleged irregular appointments and accused the Chief Minister of violating the election code

Hyderabad: Senior BRS MLA and former Minister T Harish Rao on Monday launched a blistering attack on the Congress government, accusing it of a massive scam in the proposed Ramagundam Thermal Power Project. He said the ruling party was prioritising commissions by choosing to generate expensive power at the cost of public money instead of procuring cheaper electricity from NTPC.

Countering Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka’s recent statements, Harish Rao said the Congress government was pushing for the Ramagundam Thermal Power Plant for kickbacks. He pointed to the government’s plans to procure power from this plant at an inflated additional cost of Rs.3 per unit, instead of around Rs.4 per unit from NTPC Phase 1 and Phase 2.

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“Telangana will procure nearly 3 crore units per day. This decision alone will burden people with Rs.9 crore daily,” he said. According to his calculation, the annual burden would rise to Rs.3,285 crore and, over a 25-year agreement, Telangana households would ultimately pay Rs.82,000 crore extra. “All this only to feed the Congress commission system,” he alleged.

The BRS leader said Ministers were targeting him personally because he had exposed a Rs.50,000-crore thermal power scam. He questioned the Congress’s U-turn on thermal projects. “They opposed thermal plants while in the Opposition. Why this sudden desperation for new projects now?” he asked.

He said the Congress government had abandoned its green power policy for a 30 per cent commission policy and questioned why the people of Telangana must bear the Rs.82,000-crore cost of what he called corrupt decisions of the Congress regime.

Responding to Bhatti Vikramarka, who called him unfit for politics, Harish Rao said the Congress leader had no answers on the alleged scam. “I did not take 20–30 per cent commissions like you to clear bills. If this makes me unfit, so be it,” he said.

He also ridiculed Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy for earlier vowing to lock the Yadadri Thermal Power Plant but now opening more thermal power plants after coming to power. “The Congress says one thing before elections and does the opposite after assuming office,” he said.

The BRS legislator further accused the government of filling the power department with officials from Andhra Pradesh and other States while ignoring experienced and efficient officials from Telangana. He said such appointments were an insult to the Telangana movement. He listed recent appointments in TSGenco and other electricity companies where Telangana officers and engineers were sidelined. “Revanth Reddy, is this your model of governance, appointing Telangana traitors and ignoring our own officers?” he asked.

He also charged the Chief Minister with violating the election code by launching development works across the State which would directly influence rural voters. He urged the Election Commission to intervene and stop what he termed misuse of power during elections.