Image Source: The News Minute
Senior BRS leader and former minister T. Harish Rao has ramped up his criticism of the Congress-led Telangana government, calling for a white paper to clarify the reasoning and financial justification behind a hefty ₹6,200 crore investment in a 510 MW hydel power project in Himachal Pradesh. Rao accused the state government of neglecting local welfare initiatives while making what he described as a “Tughlaq-style blunder” in another state.
Key Highlights
• Out-of-State Investment: The Telangana government, via TG Genco, has inked an MoU with Himachal Pradesh for the hydel project, pledging ₹6,200 crore even though there’s no Detailed Project Report (DPR) and no formal board approval.
• Questionable Viability: Rao pointed out that major players like Moser Baer and NTPC had abandoned the project over the last twenty years due to its technical and financial unviability, with Moser Baer even securing a court order to reclaim its investment plus interest.
• Financial Concerns: Telangana has already forked out an upfront premium of ₹26 crore, with another ₹26 crore on the way, raising red flags about transparency and the potential misuse of funds.
• Local Neglect: Rao slammed the government for citing financial constraints for crucial local programs—including farmer loan waivers, Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, Asara pensions, Mahalakshmi, student fee reimbursements, and employee pensions—while funneling money into an out-of-state project.
• Call for Accountability: He urged Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka to publish a white paper and kick off a legislative discussion, promising to unveil alleged corruption with evidence soon.
Outlook
This controversy highlights the increasing scrutiny over state investments and the need for financial accountability. With the opposition pushing for transparency and answers from the government, this issue is set to take center stage in Telangana’s political discussions and legislative agenda in the weeks ahead.
Source: Times of India, Telangana Today, Deccan Chronicle
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