Assembly heats up over debate on power crisis

State assembly witnessed heated debate in the morning session on Monday over acute power crisis prevailing in the State. Minister Botsa Satyanarayana himself admitted the severity of the power problem. He however said the Centre has to take a decision over gas allocation. The government should have established a company long back for future gas needs of the State. 

Earlier, the Speaker disallowed the adjournment motions proposed by the opposition parties. TDP moved a motion for debate on law and order, YSRCP on drinking water problem, TRS on Telangana and power crisis and the Left parties on power problems and deeksha. The members protested against the Speaker’s ruling on adjournment motions.  

The opposition parties exerted pressure for debate on the existing power crisis in the State. At one stage, the members surrounded the Speaker's podium. The Speaker adjourned the House for one hour. Later, succumbing to pressure, Minister Sridhar Babu said the government was ready for a debate on the electricity issue. Then the Speaker allowed time-bound debate on the burning issue of power crisis.

Beginning the debate, TDP member Payyavula Kesav said the State was reeling under acute power crisis. Students and the artisans were badly hit by the power cuts. About 50 per cent of rabi crop was stalled without transplantation and the owners of small-scale units were ending their lives due to power crisis. He alleged that the government was on the escape bid blaming nature as the culprit for the crisis. Power was not available in villages even for seven minutes, he lamented.

Responding to Kesav's remarks, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy admitted the severity of power crisis and said the government was in embarrassment situation. Reacting sharply to CM's submission, Kesav said Sonia and Rahul should give candles and hand fans in the hour of crisis reminding his (CM) advice that people should open windows minimizing power consumption. He said his party gave nine-hour power supply even during the severe drought. When he said about CAG remarks that the expenditure was more than 50 per cent in the State’s power plants, the Chief Minister replied that the CAG had given its reports even during the TDP regime and there was no need to take CAG reports as Khuran and Bible. 

Kesav found fault with the Chief Minister for degrading the CAG, which was a constitutional body and it has a status on par with the Supreme Court. Participating in the debate, the YSRCP members came down heavily on the Kiran government for the present crisis. They demanded steps on war-foot basis to ensure uninterrupted power supply at least seven hours for farmers. The government should bear fuel adjustment charges or otherwise it should cancel the charges.

YSRCP MLA Srikanth Reddy hailed late YSR who had ruled the state without hike in power charges. He had fulfilled his promise by supplying free power to farmers, the MLA reiterated.Srikanth Reddy said migrations should be either to the ruling party or the main opposition party and asked why the leaders were making a beeline to join the YSRCP. He refuted the charges levelled by some Congress leaders against his party.

-Sakshipost