Electricity charges will not be increased for five years;CM

Hyderabad, Aug 31 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today said the government would not increase the electricity charges for another five years and take steps to strengthen the energy sector in the state.

The state government was providing free power supply to the farm sector for the last four-and-a-half years without increasing the tariff, both for the domestic and industrial sector, a release here said.

The government was implementing the action plan by pumping in Rs 10,000 crore to provide quality electricity to all sections of people in the state.

The government was ready to discuss in the Assembly any matter,including electricity price-hike by the Opposition parties.

Stating that the government has been spending Rs 15,000 crore for the irrigation sector annually, with a view to providing water to remote areas, he said the allocation for the irrigation sector was only Rs 1,500 crore during TDP regime in 2003.

The government was providing irrigated water to additional 15 lakh acre and decided to provide water for another 15 lakh acres more by March next year,he said.

The TDP was promising free power supply to garner votes in the election, he charged.

The TDP government during its nine-year rule, increased prices five times for the domestic consumers and three times for the agricultural pumpsets.

Three people were killed in police firing protesting the increase in electricity charges, he pointed out.

Government welfare schemes,including Aarogyasri,Indiramma housing, Jalayagnam, pensions and loans at three per cent interest yielded good results in the state, he added.

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