Progressive Democratic Front Floor Leader in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council Vitapu Balasubrahmanyam on Tuesday said that the State government had no moral right to hand over the operation and maintenance of Sri Damodaram Sanjeevaiah Thermal Power Station to private players.
Addressing the protesting members of the State Power Employees’ Joint Action Committee in Krishnapatnam coinciding with the Bharat Bandh called by Central trade unions, Teachers’ MLC from Chittoor, Nellore, Prakasam constituency Mr. Balasubrahmanyam contended that it was because of the wrong policies of the State government that the 1,600 mw thermal power plant incurred losses.
He referred to the alleged sub-standarded imported coal lying in disuse at the power plant site and also to the government allegedly purchasing power at a high cost from private players.
Describing the ₹24,000 crore power plant as a public asset, he maintained that the SDSTPS should be retained in the public sector to ensure power supply at reasonable rates as power generated by independent producers would become unaffordable over a period. The GENCO should withdraw its order transferring Deputy Executive Engineer G. Srinivasan, who was in the forefront of the ‘Save SDSTPS’ campaign, he added.
