Telangana BRS leader challenges farm power transfer plan as threat to free electricity

Harish Rao, a senior leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), has raised concerns about the state government's plan to shift agricultural electricity connections to Rythu Discom, claiming the move would effectively curtail the free power guarantee for the farming community.

According to Rao's assessment, Rythu Discom's power generation portfolio is heavily dependent on solar energy, which accounts for 58 percent of its electricity supply. Solar power generation is limited to daylight hours, making round-the-clock supply unfeasible. Additionally, hydroelectric power comprises 17 percent of the discom's energy mix, generating electricity only during the monsoon season—approximately three to four months annually.

The BRS leader contends that the structural constraints of the new distribution company's power sources would make it technically impossible to sustain the 24-hour free electricity scheme that currently benefits Telangana's agricultural sector. He characterized the transfer as a strategic maneuver disguised as administrative restructuring.

The allegation represents a significant point of political contention in Telangana, with opposition parties questioning the government's intentions regarding agricultural subsidies and farmer welfare schemes. The state's commitment to free power for farmers has been a cornerstone of agrarian policy in the region.