KTR: Centre’s power reforms will prove to be farm death knell

Hyderabad : Alleging that the Centre was trying to corporatise power and agriculture sectors, TRS working president KT Rama Raosaid this would finally lead to lifting all concessions and subsidies in both the sectors and farmers may have to work as labourers in their own agriculture fields.

He also said Telangana will be the biggest loser as power subsidies extended to farmers and other communities will take a hit. “Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has already said the BJP government at the Centre is planning to privatise power and agriculture sectors and willfight against such a move. The Ce ntre is executing its plan by lifting all subsidies and allow power distribution companies by giving licences in every area,” KTR said at a press conference in Sircilla on Thursday.

The minister said the TRS government had clearly said it would oppose the new electricity bill tooth and nail. “If the bill is implemented, Telangana will be the biggest loser as p ower subsidies being given to farmers and others like SCs, STs, hair saloon owners will go and new electric and prepaid meters need to be installed. The other problem will be power tariff will change every day like petrol and diesel rates,” he s aid. He also warned the people that the Centre, which sold the public sector undertakings, was now conspiring to entrust paddy procurement to private agencies.