Finance Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy, on Tuesday, asked Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to review the latter's decision on increasing the power tariff.
Talking to reporters at his chambers in D-Block of the state Secretariat, the minister said that since the Energy portfolio was being handled by the Chief Minister himself, he must review the hike in power tariff.
However, he said that it was for the first time since the Congress had returned to power in 2004 that the power tariff was increased based on the recommendations of the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Authority.
Ramnarayana Reddy said that Andhra Pradesh was the only state in the country that was giving a subsidy of Rs. 5,300 crore to the power sector. He admitted that besides the Opposition, several leaders from the ruling party, too, were opposed to the hike in the power tariff.
The Finance Minister also claimed that the state's exchequer was not empty as was being reported by a section of the media.
He said that sufficient funds were available for the implementation of welfare schemes.
Anam added that the state has been implementing financial reforms, and that funds for at least 8 departments were being cleared through the Green Channel. He said the government was not withdrawing money through over-drafts. (INN)
filed in:Power Supply, Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, N Kiran Kumar Reddy