In a strongly worded letter addressed to Justice Narasimha Reddy, the Chairman of the inquiry commission on power sector in Telangana, former CM KCR advised Justice Reddy to step down from his position, alleging that the commission’s proceedings are biased and politically motivated.
The 12-page letter details the severe power crisis that Telangana faced at the time of its formation in 2014. The state experienced rampant power outages, affecting every sector from agriculture to industry. KCR highlighted the efforts made by the Telangana government to address these challenges, including significant increases in power generation capacity and improvements in the power distribution system.
Before the formation of Telangana, power supply was highly irregular, leading to widespread problems such as frequent burning of agriculture motor pump sets, weekly power holidays for industries, and extensive use of power inverters and diesel generators. KCR emphasized that the BRS government worked tirelessly to alleviate these issues, eventually increasing the installed power capacity from 7,778 MW to 20,000 MW and achieving 24×7 power supply across the state.
The BRS President accused Justice Reddy of conducting the inquiry with a predetermined mindset to discredit the previous government. KCR alleges that Justice Reddy made inappropriate comments in a press conference on June 11, indicating a bias against the decisions taken by the former government.
Responding to one of the key points of contention, the Bhadradri Sub-Critical thermal power plant, KCR says that the decision to use sub-critical technology was the most viable option given the urgent power needs and the available technology at the time. He adds that the decision was made in good faith and with careful consideration of all factors, including cost and time constraints.
The letter also addresses legal aspects, stating that all actions taken by the previous government were in accordance with the Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC) guidelines and the Electricity Act of 2003. KCR points out that objections raised by the then TDP MLA A. Revanth Reddy was duly considered and dismissed by the ERC, and that the proper legal recourse was available but not pursued by him.
The former CM explains that the power purchase agreements (PPAs) made with Chhattisgarh were necessary to secure a dedicated power corridor and alleviate the state’s power deficit. He criticizes the inquiry’s focus on these agreements, arguing that they were transparent and legally sound.
KCR questions Justice Reddy’s impartiality and urges him to relinquish himself from the inquiry. He emphasizes that the commission’s current approach undermines its credibility and the legitimate efforts made by the previous government to address the state’s power crisis.