Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has appealed to the Centre to withdraw the Electricity (Amendment) Bill which has serious ramifications for the poor and farmers in the country, not to harass the States with its autocratic policies and allow public sector power utilities to flourish.
He announced adopting of another resolution against the power Bill on Tuesday since the Centre had introduced the Bill with some changes for the second time, although the State Assembly had adopted a resolution against it in September 2020.
Replying a short discussion on “Central Electricity Bill – Ramifications” in the Assembly here on Monday he explained that it had provisions against the interests of sections such as farmers, poor who include those getting subsidised power such as SC, ST households, barbers, washermen and weavers. A recent gazette notification makes it clear that fixing of a prepaid smart energy meter for every power connection, not just that of agricultural pump-sets, would be mandatory under the provisions.
