Hyderabad: TS energy minister G. Jagadish Reddy on Tuesday accused AP of ditching TS by refusing to supply its share of power to TS as per the AP Reorganisation Act.
“As per the Reorganisation Act, AP Discoms have to offer surplus power to power-deficit state (Telangana) at the proposed cost of Rs 3.97 per unit. However, AP has not supplied 300 MW from April 1, 2016 as requested by TS Discoms, even at the AP Discoms-offered tariff of Rs 4.62 per unit,” Mr Jagadish Reddy told the media here on Tuesday.
The minister challenged those accusing the TRS government of indulging in scams in power purchase agreements to prove him wrong. “TS Discoms waited for two months after writing a letter to AP Discoms, and having got no response from AP, it made alternative arrangements to procure power,” he said.
In an apparent reference to TS TD leaders, particularly the party’s working president A. Revanth Reddy, Mr Jagadish Reddy said that all those speaking in favour of AP and against the interests of TS should realize that it was the AP Chief Minister who ignited the controversy by canceling the power Purchase Agreements and denied power from Krishnapatnam and Hinduja power plants to TS.
The minister said that the estimated cost of thermal power plant being set up Kothagudem in TS (1x800 MW) was just Rs 3,800 crore, while those being set up in AP were much costlier.
Referring to Congress leaders finding fault with TRS government for opting to construct 4x270 MW thermal plant at Manuguru with subcritical technology, Mr Jagadish Reddy said nearly 30 power plants with subcritical technology were slated for completion by March 2017 under the 12th Five Year Plan as it is allowed.
“BHEL is a Government of India undertaking and TS government gave the contract for construction of the 4x270 MW thermal power plant at Manuguru popularly known as Bhadradri Plant, to it to be completed before March 2017 well within the 12 five year plan. Due to anti-TS forces going to National Green Tribunal, the project has been delayed. We also know the difference between subcritical and supercritical technology,” he said.
The minister said there were hopeful of getting environmental clearances for both the Bhadradri and Yadadri power plants as new appraisal committee is going to be formed soon, as the term of old panel had expired recently.
