Hyderabad: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay has called on the Congress government to finalize the agreement for completing the National Thermal Power Corporation’s (NTPC) 4,000 MW power plant, which would alleviate the electricity cost burden on both the State government and consumers.
Addressing the media at the BJP party headquarters in Nampally on Saturday, Sanjay highlighted that while two units of the project, producing 1,600 MW, are operational and utilized by the State, the remaining three units have faced delays due to the previous government’s lack of cooperation.
Sanjay criticized Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) for failing to sign the necessary agreements, which he claimed was driven by corruption, leading the BRS government to purchase power at significantly higher rates from neighboring states. He questioned the Congress government’s inaction on discussing power purchases in the current budget session and urged them to sign the agreement to complete the remaining units.
He emphasized that the Centre has already invested Rs 11,000 crore in the construction of the two units and promised an additional Rs 21,000 crore for the remaining three units if the agreement is signed. Sanjay reiterated that the Centre would bear 100% of the construction costs.
Sanjay also rebutted Congress criticisms regarding the Union budget’s allocations for Telangana, citing significant investments such as the Rs 6,323 crore for Ramagundam Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd, Rs 1,350 crore for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and Rs 500 crore for a railway wagon unit in Kazipet. He mentioned that despite initial obstacles, land for the Central Tribal University has been allocated, with the Centre investing Rs 899 crore for its construction.
He concluded by criticizing both Congress and BRS for previously declaring the construction of the Bayyaram Steel Plant as unfeasible and labeled the State government’s resolution against the Centre’s budget allocations as illogical.
