Harish Rao opposes proposed Singareni power supply deal with Rajasthan

BRS leader T Harish Rao opposed the proposed joint venture to supply power from Singareni’s Jaipur plant to Rajasthan. He demanded that the agreement be scrapped and sought an immediate power purchase agreement with NTPC for 1,600 MW.

Hyderabad: BRS legislature party deputy leader and former Minister T Harish Rao strongly opposed the proposed joint venture to supply power generated at Singareni’s Jaipur plant to Rajasthan. He questioned the government’s decision at a time when farmers in Telangana were facing severe power shortages.

He warned that the BRS would launch an agitation in support of farmers if the Rajasthan power agreement was not scrapped. He also demanded that Telangana immediately enter into a power purchase agreement for the 1,600 MW proposed from NTPC under the State bifurcation assurances.

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In an open letter to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Harish Rao said the Jaipur plant had an installed capacity of 800 MW and criticised the proposal to divert power to another State when the coal, water and land for the project belonged to Telangana. “Diverting power generated in Telangana for a cheaper cost to another State is an anti-people decision and criminal negligence,” he asserted.

He also questioned the proposed diversion of nearly Rs 22,000 crore in investment from Singareni Collieries Company Limited towards the Rajasthan project. He alleged that farmers were receiving just seven-eight hours of power, which is less than the promised 24-hour power supply, and that power cuts and power holidays were affecting agriculture.

The BRSLP deputy leader stated that power generation at several thermal plants had suffered due to management failures and inadequate coal stocks. He also alleged that inferior-grade coal was being used at the Yadadri thermal power plant and that generation at the Kothagudem and Bhadradri plants had been halted due to coal shortage. “Thermal power plants must maintain 45 days of reserve stocks. The Congress government exposed its callousness in ensuring it,” he added.