CM announces waiver of pending power dues of STs

Hyderabad : Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has announced the waiver of all the pending power dues of the STs as well as lifting of electrical cases against them.

He also announced that for every ST habitation, house, for every ROFR patta farmer, power connection would be provided. He announced road connectivity will be given to every ST habitation in the State and funds for this will be allocated in the Budget. He said residential schools would be provided in the Adivasis areas and admissions will be provided for the locals. Schemes like Sheep rearing will also be extended to the STs.

The Chief Minister held a special meeting with the public representatives from STs at Pragati Bhavan here on Saturday. Ministers Etela Rajender, Jagadeesh Reddy, Government’s Chief Advisor Rajiv Sharma, TS Genco, Transco CMD D Prabhakar Rao, DGP M Mahender Reddy, Special Chief Secretary BR Meena, Principal Secretaries S Narsing Rao, Mahesh Dutt Ekka, Secretary (Forests) Rajath Kumar, Commissioner Laxman, MPs Sitaram Naik, Nagesh, MLAs, former MLAs, SPDCL CMD Raghuma Reddy, NPDCL CMD Gopal Rao, Transco JMD Srinivas Rao and others attended.

The issue of power bill dues under domestic category of the STs was discussed at the meeting. The CM held in-depth discussions with the public representatives and the officials and decided to waive the dues. He ordered that the government should pay Rs 40 crore to the electricity department and to waive dues worth Rs 70 Crore. Transco CMD Prabhakar Rao said they would waive the remaining Rs 30 Crore dues. The Chief Minister also instructed that all the cases booked by the vigilance should also be lifted against the STs. He wanted the officials concerned to provide power connection to the each ST house by collecting a nominal fee of Rs 125 per connection. To this the officials said they would provide the power connection by taking only Rs 125 per connection to the ST house. They said they would provide the required service wire, internal wiring in the house, two bulbs and would not charge any tariff if the power consumption is below 50 units.

The Chief Minister also instructed that for the ST habitations, three phase power supply to be made available. The CM said of the 9737 ST habitations, there is no three phase power in 8734 villages and this alone showed the apathy of the then united AP rule. He assured for all the ST farmers including those cultivating under the ROFR patta, power connections will be given and the free supply of power too. He wanted the officials concerned to make the necessary arrangements. He has asked PCCF Sri Jha to make proper strategies for the laying of power lines in the forest areas. He has asked the finance minister to provide funds in the next Budget for setting up of road network in the tribal areas.

KCR said there was a lot of benefit reaped due to the residential schools and the demand is increasing day by day and hence some more new residential schools will be started. He said a new policy would be implemented through which Adivasis children get admission into the residential schools started in their areas exclusively for them. STs will be given financial assistance for self-employment without having any link with the banks. He wanted the officials to make plans for this and wanted all the sub sects among the STs should come together and take benefits of various government programmes and schemes. He asked the ST public representatives to bring unity among the STs.

Committees with ST public representatives

Under the leadership of senior MLA Redya Naik a committee is formed to coordinate with the officials for the road network connectivity to all the ST habitations. MP Sitaram Naik will head Committee that will coordinate on education and self-employment matters. MLA Payam Venkateshwarlu will head a Committee that takes care of the power supply related issues.