KTR slams proposal for hike in power tariff

At a press meet in Sircilla alongside the party leaders, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS)  working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) voiced strong opposition to the proposed increase in power tariff by Telangana’s distribution companies (DISCOMs), urging the Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC) to reject the proposal.
Representing BRS, KTR joined Madhusudhanachari in Hyderabad, Prashanth Reddy in Nizamabad, and former minister G Jagadish Reddy in a recent hearing to defend the party’s stance against these charges.
Highlighting concerns over the burden the proposed hike would impose on the public, KTR criticised Congress for trying to undermine free electricity by imposing an additional Rs 18,000 crore on residents under the pretense of offering free power. “These arbitrary and unscientific proposals target the middle class, causing unnecessary financial strain,” he asserted. He further emphasised the drastic increase in fixed charges, where rates are proposed to jump from Rs 10 to Rs 50 per month for households using more than 300 units, which could dramatically raise summer electricity bills.
KTR warned that equating tariff rates for heavy industries and small, medium, and cottage industries under the same category would devastate the latter, risking thousands of jobs. “How can micro-industries be expected to pay the same rates as large corporations like Adani’s? It’s an impractical and damaging move,” he said, questioning why Telangana should adopt policies used in Gujarat without considering the local context.
Drawing a comparison, KTR highlighted that during BRS’s ten-year governance, Telangana’s government provided free water, uninterrupted 24-hour electricity to farmers, and managed Mission Bhagiratha without placing a financial burden on the public. “KCR’s leadership ensured farmers received electricity without additional costs, with the government covering Rs. 1,000 crore monthly,” KTR pointed out.
He criticised the current administration’s moves, stating, “In just ten months, we’re seeing power cuts and tariff hikes – ideas that are fundamentally against public interest.”
Further, KTR noted the social impact of the recent governance shift, mentioning that over the last decade, there were no suicides among Sircilla’s weavers. “Now, under this government’s ten-month rule, Sircilla alone has seen 10 weaver suicides, and Telangana has witnessed eight more. We presented this list to the Chief Minister,” he disclosed, urging the government to take immediate action to prevent further tragedies.
KTR demanded an increase in the current 10 HP subsidy for weavers in Sircilla to 30 HP, stressing that BRS’s approach was to manage resources without placing additional burdens on the public. Reaffirming his commitment, he added, “We, as the primary opposition, will continue to fight on behalf of the people, ensuring no unjust increase in power tariffs.”