Jagadish says Electricity Bill affects farmers’ interests

Energy minister G. Jagadish Reddy on Monday said Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has reviewed the possible impact of the proposed Electricity Amendment Bill on the state’s energy sector and will soon write to the Centre about the government’s point of view.

Speaking to media, he said that the state government was fully aware of the impact of the Bill on the electricity sector in the state. He said that farmers will have to bear the brunt if the Bill becomes a law.

Reminding that Chief Minister had already opposed the Bill as there are ample indications that the entire power sector could be privatised soon, he explained that “If it comes into effect, subsidies will not be given and the farmers will not enjoy 24-hour free power and SC and STs will also lose free electricity privileges.”

The minister said that they will have to pay for electricity without subsidy and then the government has to make cash transfers to the Centre for those subsidies. He said that the Chief Minister, after seeing the Centre’s response, will seek opinions of his counterparts from other States.

Earlier, members of Telangana Electricity Employees Union 1104 met Jagadish Reddy at his residence and submitted a memorandum urging the State government to stop the proposed Bill from becoming a law.

They highlighted the problems the farmers of the State will face as would lower-income groups.