KCR pats employees for overcoming power crisis

Hyderabad, May 4 (INN): Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao said that the Telangana State resolved power crisis due to the relentless work done by the employees and workers.

'The way Telangana state has managed to come out of the darkness to light created a wonder all over the country. Everybody, my lineman brothers, engineers, officers and workers have done work with commitment often risking their lives to achieve what we have achieved in the power sector. Except for the agriculture sector, we are giving uninterrupted power 24 hours to all the other sectors. Very soon, farm sector will also be given 24 hours power supply,' the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister said he was told by CMD Prabhakar Rao said that power supply could be provided for 24 hours if all vacancies pending since 2012 are filled. He said the department sought his permission to recruit 13,500 employees and give promotions to 10,000 existing employees. He said he accepted the proposal and wanted the promotions to be given before recruitment. 'We have regularised 24,000 outsourcing employees. The total employees after the recruitment will be 75,000 and Electricity department then will become the largest employer in the country. It will be next to the State Government as far as employees' strength is concerned. We will also examine the casual labour issue. Stop this outsourcing and contract methods. Take as many as you require, give them good salaries and extract work. What is this meaningless outsourcing?' he said and in a lighter vein quipped, Do you want chief minister and ministers on contract basis?

The Chief Minister told the gathering that he had a meeting with the industrialist on TS iPass who informed them that the Telangana was the only state in the country where an industry can begin its production within six months. 'We got a good name. We have to give 24 hours power supply to agriculture sector before the next elections. We will have 27-28,000 MW of power in the state in the next two years. We have purchased power from Chattisgarh. After this June and after June 2018, we will take 10,000 MWs for the lift irrigation on payment. Harish Rao should have his calculations right. Irrigation department will pay for the lift irrigation power charges. We have to get ready to supply power to projects like Kaleswaram, Bhakta Ramadasu, Seetharama, Kaluwakurty, Nettempad, Bhima and Dindi by this year-end. Lift water during the night and day shifts. By gravity and by lifts we will have to supply water to one crore acres and we have to see it happen. For the first time, in Mahabubnagar paddy is cultivated in 5.5 lakh acres. If 200 MW of power is supplied drinking water to each household through taps will be provided under Mission Bhagiratha. If you want to see modern society we need power,' the CM said.

The CM said that industrialists are buying power from other sources and they will be asked to pay a surcharge. This will get Rs 2000 crore to the department. 'We will have a discussion with the industrialists. I want the Discom Chairmen to complete the promotions in next 15 to 20 days. The promoted employee should get his promoted salary by June. If you have old DPC throw it and implement a new method. The new recruits should join under the old guard. For supplying 24 hours power, we have to construct sub stations. Work hard and with commitment, the spirit of Telangana movement should reflect here. Everyone should become a KCR. I am confident that you will do a good job and bring name and fame to the State,' the CM said.

Earlier, employees, workers of the electricity department turned up in large numbers to thank the Chief Minister for giving permission to promotions and new recruitment. TRANSCO and GENCO CMD D Prabhakar Rao, Joint MD Srinivas Rao, NPDCL CMD Gopala Rao and SPDCL CMD Raghuma Reddy were also present.