KTR Asks Government To Bear Full Cost Of Installing Transformers

BRS working president K T Rama Rao today strongly criticized the government for its decision to burden apartment residents with the cost of installing transformers to manage the increasing power load in Hyderabad.

KTR lambasted the government for issuing notices through TSSPDCL, asking apartment complexes with power consumption exceeding 20 kW to set up their own transformers at their own expense.

KTR described this as yet another "Tughlaq move" by the government, stating that such actions stemmed from its inability to manage power supply efficiently.

"Installing a transformer for an apartment complex costs approximately Rs 3 lakh. This translates to an additional burden of Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 per household. The responsibility to install new transformers and upgrade the power supply system lies entirely with the government, not with the citizens. In total, Hyderabad residents will bear a Rs 300 crore burden if this policy is implemented. Despite a public outcry against this decision, the government remains indifferent," KTR said.

"If increased electricity usage is a reason to impose such burdens on citizens, will the government tomorrow ask people to install their own pipelines and roads if the usage increases?" he also quipped. He called it shameful that the administration was evading its responsibilities to provide essential infrastructure.

KTR also said that it was the mismanagement by the Congress government that led to this situation. "This policy reflects the government's inefficiency and lack of planning. The same authorities who approved construction projects without ensuring adequate transformer capacity are now passing the blame onto the residents. Instead of targeting middle-class families, the government should hold builders and officials accountable for these lapses," he said.

KTR also pointed out the irony of the Congress government, which came to power promising free electricity of up to 200 units, now attempting to empty the pockets of citizens with a Rs 300 crore expense. "People are already paying electricity bills based on their usage. The government must enhance infrastructure to meet the growing demand instead of transferring this burden onto the public," KTR said.

KTR demanded that the government bear the full cost of installing transformers wherever required, and urged the government to immediately withdraw this "anti-people policy". He also warned that any attempt to shift this financial burden onto the residents would be met with strong protests. "If the government does not reverse this decision, I will join the affected citizens in their fight," he announced.

He also highlighted the growing unrest among the citizens due to unannounced power cuts. Instead of addressing those issues, the government was burdening the residents of the city with unnecessary costs, he said.

The BRS leader called on the Chief Minister, who also oversees the municipal and electricity departments, to respond immediately and withdraw the decision. "Governments exist to serve the people, not to impose unfair burdens on them," he concluded.