Energy Minister Jagadish Reddy hits back at Congress in Assembly

Hyderabad: For the first time in recent times, a minister from KCR government tried to hit back at the Congress on power purchase row that hogged the limelight in last few weeks after Malkajgiri MP Revanth Reddy held a series of press briefings taking on the top brass of the Energy department.

The new minister for Energy department G Jagadish Reddy took an opportunity in the ongoing budget session to give a strong counter on this subject.

Giving his reply in discussion on Demands in the Assembly on Tuesday, Jagadish Reddy said that the opposition camp was worried and frustrated and indulging in false propaganda as support for K Chandrashekar Rao and TRS had grown by leaps and bounds among the public in view of 24-hour power supply in the State and free power to farmers.

Without taking names, he said that "few inside and a few outside" were trying in vain to create doubts in the minds of the public of the State.

Jagadish Reddy said that power from Chhattisgarh was bought from a government-run firm only. He said that the government spent only Rs 3.90 paise per unit of power bought from Chhattisgarh. Considering transmission cost, it came to Rs 4.35 paise which is less than the average cost of Rs 4.46 paise spent per unit, he said.

Jagadish Reddy stated that Telangana did not get any assistance from the neighbouring and power surplus Andhra Pradesh State despite AP Reorganisation Act clearly stressed on sharing of power between both States.

He also touched on allegations on why the government did not buy power from NTPC that offers at a lesser price. NTPC never gave power at the price of Rs 4.50 paise as stated by them. The power from Jhajjar plant is costing more than Rs 6 per unit, he pointed out.