The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman Payyavula Keshav has accused the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government of hampering the power sector in Andhra Pradesh. Keshav has blamed the government’s inefficiency, greed for commissions, and power purchase at higher prices for the destruction of the power sector in the state. He added that this has led to heavy financial burdens on the common man.
Speaking at a virtual press conference on Thursday, Keshav demanded that the YSRC government provide information on the power bills paid by families from 2014 to 2019 and for the past four years. He argued that this information would reveal the actual burden imposed on each family in the last four years. According to Keshav, the corrupt practices of the government have put an additional burden of Rs 57,000 crore on the people of the state in the form of power charges. Furthermore, he said that the government is taking more from the people than what is being given to them in the name of welfare schemes.
Keshav also highlighted that the power tariff in the state has been revised seven times over the past four years, and the common man has been burdened with true-up and power surcharges. He pointed out that despite no significant increase in power utilization over the past four years, the charges being collected from the people have hiked exorbitantly. Additionally, the government is deliberately purchasing power at higher prices, even when it is available at lower prices.
The allegations made by Keshav are concerning, as they suggest that the YSRC government has neglected vital sectors of the state, causing financial distress for the common man. The government must address these issues immediately to alleviate the burdens on the people of Andhra Pradesh.
