KCR alleges govt. okayed Centres proposal to install meters to farm pumpsets, flays HYDRAA

KCR alleges govt. okayed Centres proposal to install meters to farm pumpsets, flays HYDRAA

## Farm Sector Under Scrutiny: Chief Minister Accuses State Government of Approving Power Meter Installation

**Hyderabad, Telangana** – A significant political storm has erupted in Telangana as Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) leveled serious allegations against the state government, accusing it of tacitly approving a proposal from the central government to install electricity meters on agricultural pumpsets. The Chief Minister’s strong condemnation was directed at the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), formerly known as HYDRAA, for its alleged role in facilitating this initiative.

The controversy centers on a perceived shift in policy regarding the provision of free electricity to farmers, a cornerstone of the current government’s agricultural support framework. Chief Minister Rao, speaking at a public forum, asserted that the state government had given its consent to a proposal from the Union government that would necessitate the metering of power supply to agricultural connections. This, he argued, would effectively undermine the long-standing practice of providing unmetered, free power to the farming community, a move he characterized as detrimental to the agrarian sector.

While details of the specific proposal and the extent of the state government’s alleged approval remain subject to further clarification, Chief Minister Rao’s pronouncements have ignited widespread concern among farmers and agricultural stakeholders. The unmetered power supply has been a significant cost-saving measure for farmers, enabling them to irrigate their crops without the burden of electricity bills. The introduction of meters, as suggested by the Chief Minister, would introduce a direct financial implication for farmers, potentially impacting their profitability and overall agricultural output.

The Chief Minister’s criticism extended to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB). He alleged that the board, under its current administration, had been complicit in advancing the central government’s agenda concerning the installation of these meters. While the exact nature of the HMWSSB’s involvement was not fully elaborated, the implication is that the board may have been involved in planning, facilitating, or even implementing aspects of this metering initiative within its operational purview, potentially in collaboration with power distribution companies.

The Chief Minister’s strong stance signals a potential deepening of the political divide between the state and the central government on agricultural policy. The Telangana government has consistently championed the cause of farmers, with free power being a prominent feature of its welfare schemes. Any move towards metering agricultural power would represent a significant departure from this established policy and could be viewed as an attempt by the central government to rationalize power subsidies, a move that often faces resistance from state governments committed to farmer welfare.

In his address, Chief Minister Rao vowed to resist any such attempts to burden the farming community with additional costs. He emphasized his government’s commitment to protecting the interests of farmers and assured them that all necessary measures would be taken to prevent the implementation of the proposed metering system. The coming days are expected to witness further political maneuvering and public discourse as the implications of these allegations unfold and the state government articulates its definitive response to the purported central government proposal. The future of free power for farmers in Telangana hangs in the balance, with this latest development marking a critical juncture in the ongoing debate over agricultural support and energy policy.

This article was created based on information from various sources and rewritten for clarity and originality.