Telangana will emerge as a power surplus state by the end of 2017, said K T Rama Rao, Minister for IT & Communications here on Friday. In his first round table interaction with the Telangana ICT industry here, Rao said the government will lay power transmission lines from neighbouring states such as Chhattisgarh and Karnataka in 10-12 months.
“Power crisis is a legacy we got. We are tackling it at multiple levels. We are now on a war-footing to ensure uninterrupted power supply,” Rao replied to a delegate’s question on unscheduled power cuts adding, “We are purchasing additional power from neighbouring states but there aren’t enough transmission lines currently.” The government will also set up power generation plants in Telangana to ensure the State has sufficient power supply by the end of the next three years. Interacting with a packed audience comprising nearly 800 delegates, most of them representing start-ups, Rao said, companies, both existing and new, will be entitled to the same tax incentives applicable in Andhra Pradesh.
“The AP Reorganisation Act clearly indicates that whatever tax concessions are applicable in AP will be available in Telangana,” he said allaying another delegate’s apprehensions whether he should move to AP if it offers more tax benefits than Telangana.
KTR was at his candid and humorous best throughout the interaction and had the audience in a spell. This is for the first time that multiple government departments including GHMC, HMDA, Water Board, Infrastructure Corporation of Telangana, Police and Industries have gathered on a common platform to address issues faced by the IT industry.
To ensure Brand Hyderabad stays in tact, KTR said, the government was in a dialogue with companies.
Courtesy: The New Indian Express