Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s outburst against the Narendra Modi government on fixing of meters for agriculture pump sets as part of power sector reforms has caused major embarrassment to Andhra Pradesh government led by chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Interacting with media and also addressing public meetings at Jangaon and Yadadri, KCR lashed out at the Modi government at the Centre for bringing pressure on the states to implement power sector reforms and fix meters to the agriculture pump sets.
He said Andhra Pradesh had succumbed to pressure from the Centre and fixed meters to the farm pump sets, in order to get a leverage to go in for additional borrowings.
“But the Telangana government will not yield to such pressures. I will not allow installation of meters for pump sets, even I am forced to cut my neck,” KCR said.
This has led to the demand, particularly from the Left parties, that the Andhra Pradesh government, too, should oppose the fixing of meters to agriculture pump sets, as it would lead to increase in farm power charges in the coming years.
As KCR’s comments have kicked up a debate in Andhra Pradesh, the Jagan government has sought to clarify its state.
State revenue minister and deputy chief minister Dharmana Krishna Das said there was no need to react or get unduly worried over the Telangana chief minister’s remarks.
He said the farmers in Andhra Pradesh would not lose even a single rupee with the installation of meters for agriculture pump sets.
“The government is bearing the cost of the electricity meters fixed to the pump sets. Secondly, the farmers won’t have to pay even a single rupee for the power they consume,” Krishna Das said.
He clarified that the installation of meters would only help the government assess how much power is consumed by the agriculture sector.
“The government will pay the entire amount for the power consumed by the farmers, as soon as the meter reading is taken. So, there is nothing to worry for the farmers,” the deputy chief minister said.
He made it clear that as long as Jagan Mohan Reddy is in power, the farmers would continue to get power for their crops free of cost.
“You can inscribe these words anywhere. The farmers won’t have anything to lose,” he asserted.
