Telangana Minster Calls for Rejection of Third Power Discom Proposal
Telangana's former minister T. Harish Rao has called on the Electricity Regulatory Commission to reject plans for setting up a third discom, citing lack of public demand and operational feasibility issues.
Highlights
- •Rao urges rejection of Rythu Discom proposal
- •Criticizes government's rushed announcement
- •Concerns about manpower shortages and financial viability
- •Emphasizes the need for public hearings
Hyderabad: T. Harish Rao, a former minister and senior BRS leader, has urged the Telangana Electricity Regulatory Commission (TGERC) to reject the government's application for establishing a third power distribution company (discom) designated as 'Rythu discom'. In his letter to TGERC, Rao emphasized several critical issues, arguing against the creation of this new entity, which is purportedly intended to serve farmers but lacks support from them.
Key Reasons for Rejection
Rao pointed out that there was no demand for such a discom from any section of Telangana society. He highlighted the government's rushed approach, which includes announcing the operational commencement by June 2 before completing public hearing processes.
Additionally, Rao expressed concerns over manpower shortages in the proposed Rythu discom. According to the government's claim, approximately 29 lakh agricultural consumers across 32 districts and 584 mandals would be managed with only 2,000 employees, including just barely 1,000 field staff like linemen and artisans. Rao questioned how such limited manpower could manage 5.5 lakh transformers and 2.6 lakh kilometers of low-tension lines.
The Telangana government's GO No. 44 acknowledged the financial stress faced by existing two discoms due to a billing-rate-cost-of-service gap. This document underscores that the proposed third discom is financially driven, not aimed at farmer welfare.
Rao urged TGERC to conduct widespread public hearings in all districts and highlighted these significant concerns.In conclusion, Harish Rao's letter to TGERC emphasized the urgency of transparent processes and equitable resource allocation in the power sector reform initiatives for rural Telangana. His plea for a more inclusive approach to energy distribution remains crucial as the state navigates this complex regulatory landscape.
