Verbal war continues on power generation between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
Hyderabad: After Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s stinging retort to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s objection over generation of power at the Srisailam Hydro Electric Project, a war of words has erupted between the leaders of two states.
Telangana irrigation minister T. Harish Rao said power generation would continue at Srisailam project to save the crops in Telangana. “By generating 800 MW, we are able to provide five to six hours of power supply. If generation is stopped, we will not be able to provide power for even four hours. We have informed Krishna Water Board about this,” Mr Harish Rao added.
“Mr Naidu offers only 300 MW in lieu of 800 MW being generated,” Mr Harish Rao said. Hitting out at Mr Naidu and his team, Mr Harish Rao expressed anger over the Telangana TD leaders backing Andhra Pradesh CM and ignoring the interests of Telangana, while staying in Telangana, enjoying its food and being its public representative.
“Anywhere in the country, parties in a state fight for the state’s interests, but in Telangana some are working against it. The TRS is the only party protecting state interests,” he said.
Minister for IT and panchayat raj K.T. Rama Rao joined the tirade, saying AP irrigation minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao would have to quit the ministry for justifying the stoppage of power generation.
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“Mr Uma should understand that GO No 69, on the levels to be maintained at Srisailam project, was issued by none else but their present Chief Minister, Mr Naidu in 1996.
The GO clearly states that power can be generated up to 834 feet and if required it can go down further. On one occasion it went down to 774 feet,” Mr Rama Rao said.
Mr Rama Rao said Srisailam Hydro Electric Project was basically constructed for power generation but was subsequently turned to meet agriculture and drinking water needs.
TRS Mahbubnagar MP Jitender Reddy hit back at the AP government for trying to deny Telangana its rightful share of power from Srisailam power project. “We have every right to generate power. Telangana farmers are suffering due to shortage of power since they are dependent on bore wells,” he said.
TRS MLC Bhanuprasad took on TPCC president Ponnala Lakshmaiah for blaming Mr Chandrasekhar Rao for the power mess saying Mr Lakshmaiah handled power but never thought about setting up power generating units in Telangana.
In the Kiran Kumar Reddy Cabinet, Mr Lakshmaiah handled power. Why did not establishing of new power units ever come to his mind? He was minister for 10 years but did nothing to improve the power sector in Telangana, he said.
