Jagadish Reddy alleges Rs 1,000-crore scam in PM-KUSUM scheme

BRS MLA G Jagadish Reddy alleged a Rs 1,000-crore scam in the implementation of the PM-KUSUM scheme and demanded an investigation into irregularities in the Energy Department. He also accused the government of neglecting farmers and engaging in match-fixing politics with the BJP.

Hyderabad: BRS MLA and former Minister G Jagadish Reddy accused the Congress government of indulging in a Rs 1,000-crore scam in the implementation of the PM-KUSUM scheme. He demanded an immediate investigation into alleged irregularities in the Energy Department.

Speaking to mediapersons at Telangana Bhavan on Wednesday, Jagadish Reddy said developers who invested in solar power projects under the PM-KUSUM scheme were being subjected to harassment by officials despite completing their plants. He said projects with a combined capacity of around 1,000-1,200 MW had been completed, but grid synchronisation had been deliberately delayed for the past two to three months.

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According to him, certain officials from the Energy Department and REDCO were allegedly demanding bribes from developers and creating hurdles in the commissioning process. While the Centre had fixed a tariff of Rs 3.13 per unit, he said officials were now citing a lower rate of Rs 2.90, raising questions about the government’s handling of the scheme.

The BRS leader demanded that Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka order a probe into the allegations. He said the BRS would soon reveal the names of officials allegedly linked to the issue and vowed to expose another major irregularity in the power sector shortly.

Jagadish Reddy also accused the government of neglecting farmers’ interests. He criticised the declaration that paddy procurement had been completed, asserting that significant stocks were still awaiting purchase. The government should procure all remaining paddy and clear pending dues to farmers, he said.

Alleging that the State still owed farmers around Rs 30,000 crore, the former Minister demanded that the outstanding amount be credited to beneficiaries without delay. He also accused the government of spending more on publicity and public meetings related to the Rythu Bharosa scheme than on actual financial assistance to farmers.

“The government announced plans to release Rythu Bharosa for the ensuing Vaanakalam (Kharif) season without completing disbursement for the recent Yasangi (Rabi) season,” he remarked.

On the political front, Jagadish Reddy stated that the Congress and BJP were acting in tandem despite their public differences. Referring to the recent spat between Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, he said the two parties were engaged in match-fixing politics while attempting to mislead the public.

“What we have in Telangana is a hybrid Congress, and Revanth Reddy is leading it in tandem with the BJP leadership. Otherwise, has any Union Minister acted like a personal assistant to the Chief Minister from another political party and arranged meetings for him in Delhi?” he asked.

Responding to a question, the BRS leader said Revanth Reddy was working in collusion with the BJP, TDP and Janasena in Telangana and that the people of Telangana were disillusioned with his political theatrics.