Hyderabad: T Harish Rao, a senior leader from the BRS, criticized the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government on Friday. He questioned the decision to invest Rs 6,200 crore in a hydel power project in Himachal Pradesh through TSGenco. He argued that when the state struggles to fund basic welfare, spending on such a project is like wearing perfume on an empty stomach.
Rao accused the government of betraying the people of Telangana. He claimed they chose a risky project over their promised welfare schemes. He questioned why the government signed a deal with Himachal Pradesh without a Detailed Project Report or approval from the TSGenco board. Already, Rs 26 crore was paid as an upfront premium, with another Rs 26 crore due soon, raising concerns about financial transparency.
Rao demanded answers to critical questions. He asked why Telangana is investing in a 510 MW project that major companies like Moser Baer and NTPC abandoned. He wondered why they pursued a project considered unviable for 20 years.
He explained the project’s troubled past. In 2009, Moser Baer paid Rs 64 crore for the Seli and Miyar hydel projects but withdrew due to technical and financial issues. They later recovered their payment through a Himachal Pradesh High Court order in January 2023. Similarly, NTPC canceled its 2019 agreement after three years, citing heavy snowfall for over seven months annually. In November 2024, the Himachal High Court ordered the auction of Himachal Bhawan in Delhi to settle Moser Baer‘s dues, highlighting the state’s financial distress.
Rao questioned how a government claiming it can’t secure loans can justify spending Rs 6,200 crore in another state. He demanded accountability and urged Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka to release a white paper explaining the project’s justification. He also called for a discussion in the Telangana Assembly.
