Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has assured that the government would give necessary financial support to the Telangana Electricity Organisations and would extend all the support to them and stand by them.
The Chief Minister said that all the required measures will be taken to prevent the electricity organizations getting into any financial crisis, as the electricity organisations have proved their mettle in generation, distribution and supply of power and they stood as role model to others in the country.
Since the state’s development is depended on the working of the electricity organizations, he said the government would protect them. He said his government’s motto is “no power break down even for a wink of an eye, no financial trouble for the electricity organizations”.
He announced that a stringent method would be put in place so that the Government institutions, departments and local bodies pay their power bill dues on time. The CM said Power Week will be observed shortly in all the villages and towns in the State to settle all the power related problems and issues.
KCR held a review meeting on power sector at Pragathi Bhavan here on Wednesday. Minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao, Genco, Transco CMD D Prabhakar Rao, Government’s Chief Advisor Rajiv Sharma, SPDCL CMD G Raghuma Reddy, NPDCL CMD Gopal Rao, Transco JMD Srinivas Rao, Special CS Ajay Mishra, Principal Secretaries, S Narsing Rao, Ramakrishna Rao, GHMC Commissioner Dana Kishore, Irrigation E-in-C Muralidhar, CMO Secretary Smita Sabharwal and others participated.
“In Telangana development and progress, electricity organisations play an important role. At the time of State formation, there is a severe power crisis. Now Telangana State has become a role model in the country in the power sector.
In this achievement, there is an important role played by the electricity officials, engineers, employees and the staff. There is employees’ dedication, commitment and hard work. Now uninterrupted quality power is being supplied to all the sectors in the State 24 x 7.
Farmers are given free 24 x 7 power in the state which is unheard of in the country. Due to the supply of quality power, there is a growth and development in the industrial sector. Electricity organisations need further development.
They should not face any financial problems come what may. At the same time, there should not be any power breakdown even for a fraction of a second. To achieve this, whatever to be done by the government will be done,” the CM clarified.
“Gram panchayats, municipalities have to pay heavy power dues. Its regrettable that power bills are not paid on time. Bills should be paid for the power utilised. From now onwards, Village Panchayats, Municipalities, Corporations. HMWS should pay their power bills every month without fail.
If the bills are not paid on time, in village, the Sarpanch, Village secretary, in Municipalities the chairperson, Commissioners will be punished.
The government will go for a one-time settlement of the all the dues till date. Dues for Electricity organisations will be bought to the zero level. Discipline should come in as far as usage of the street lights are concerned in the villages and towns. Ensure that no street light is on during the day time,” the CM explained.
“Discipline should also come in the government departments. Many government departments are not paying their electricity bills on time. From now onwards, the Finance department will pay the bills of the departments concerned from the budgetary allocation of various departments.
Install prepaid meters at all the government departments and power used for other needs by the government. The government will bear the expenditure with regard to free power to the farmers and the Lift Irrigation schemes and projects.
For this purpose, a special grant will be made in the Budget and electricity organisations will be paid their bills every month. The government will also stand guarantee to the electricity organisations to raise funds to strengthen their organisations,’’ Sri KCR assured.
“The government is preparing an action plan for the works to be taken up in the villages and towns. In this 60-day long action campaign, power week will be observed. During the period, rectification of the twisted poles, power lines, clearing of the power bills etc., will be taken up. At the same time assess how much will be the cost of bills and quantum of power required for the streetlights,” the CM remarked.
“In cities like Hyderabad and other places, finding place to put a Sub Station and Transformer is becoming difficult and they often posed problems. For this, the government will bring in a law to make it mandatory for all the lay outs in the towns and cities to make provision for the allotment of land for the Substation and transformers,” the CM said.
He also instructed the Irrigation and Electricity officials to make an assessment regularly on how much quantum of power is needed from time to time for the Lift Irrigation Schemes and how to procure it. They should make estimates based on their assessment and go ahead with the action plan.
The Chief Minister, who suggested that solar power, which is available at a cheaper rate, should be procured to meet the heavy demand due to the Lift Irrigation schemes, and asked the officials concerned to invite tenders for 1000 MWs of solar power.
The CM also instructed the Finance department to prepare contingency plans to extend financial help to the electricity organizations as and when they require the financial help. (INN)