KTR Alleges Congress Plot to End Free Power Through Prepaid Meters

Alleging a “hidden agenda” behind the Congress government’s proposed electricity reforms, K. T. Rama Rao on Sunday claimed that the move to introduce prepaid electricity meters and install meters for agricultural motors was aimed at eventually scrapping the State’s free power scheme .

Addressing a party meeting in Amberpet , the BRS Working President launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, accusing the government of attempting to hand over the power sector to private corporate players under the guise of reforms.

KTR alleged that the Cabinet had decided to gradually replace existing electricity meters in villages, towns and agricultural sectors with mobile recharge-style prepaid meters over the next few months. He claimed the move was part of a larger plan to weaken public welfare measures and burden consumers.

Referring to the previous BRS regime, KTR said former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had resisted pressure from the Centre to install meters for farm motors, even at the cost of losing financial assistance. According to him, the BRS government had protected free electricity for farmers despite facing pressure linked to loans and reforms.

He further accused the Congress government of “surrendering” to corporate interests and warned that people would strongly oppose any attempt to impose meters on agricultural connections. KTR called on the public to “teach the Congress a lesson” before such measures were implemented.

The BRS leader also criticised the Congress government’s overall performance, claiming that despite completing nearly half of its five-year term, it had failed to fulfil major promises made to the people. He said the party would soon begin digital membership drives and training programmes for cadre ahead of upcoming local body and corporation elections.

Targeting the government over urban development, KTR alleged that not a single house had been constructed under the current administration while thousands of homes belonging to poor families were being demolished in the name of HYDRAA operations. He claimed the previous BRS government had built nearly one lakh houses in Hyderabad, whereas the present government was “destroying existing homes”.

He also mocked the government’s “Future City” vision, alleging that even basic civic issues such as drainage and garbage clearance remained unresolved in several parts of the city. KTR further claimed that major infrastructure works, including sewage treatment plants, bridges and much of the Musi river rejuvenation project, had already been completed during the BRS tenure.

Accusing the Congress government of pursuing expensive projects only for “contract commissions”, KTR said the current administration was using large-scale demolition drives in the name of development, leaving thousands of families displaced.