What free power? Discoms still charge government schools in Telangana

Several schools across State continue to receive power bills, raising questions about the government's commitment to its decision

Hyderabad: Despite a high-profile announcement by the Congress government for extending free power supply to government schools in the State over three months ago, several schools continue to receive power bills, raising questions about the government’s commitment to its decision.

Back on September 5, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who is also Energy Minister, announced free power supply to 27,862 government-run schools in the State. He had also claimed that the decision reflected the government’s commitment towards government schools.

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However, even after more than three months into the announcement, the initiative has not been grounded, depriving school managements of the benefit of zero bills. For example, ZP School in Karimnagar district received a bill of nearly Rs 2,000 this month. Similarly, another ZP School in Jagtial district was issued a bill of Rs 1,089 on December 9.

As the government announced free power supply, the bills generated by the discoms continue to pile up in the schools, which are not keen on paying them given the government order. “This month, the school received a bill of Rs 2,000. Since the announcement of free power supply, the schools have not been paying the bills,” said a high school headmaster.

Further, several schools have not been paying power bills for the last several months. A case in point is a ZP School in Jagtial district, which has a total of Rs 16,932 dues, with last paid being Rs 370 on April 29, 2023. According to sources, there may be nearly Rs 100 crore power bill arrears of the government and local body schools in the State. The School Education Department had recently sent a proposal, requesting the State government to waive the arrears as well.

“The grants schools receive are meagre. Considering the financial condition, the government should also waive power bill arrears of all schools,” said a headmaster.