Yadadri Power Plant To Be Ready By Jan 15: Bhatti

Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka today announced that the 4,000 MW Yadadri power plant would be dedicated to the nation by January 15, 2026.

Vikramarka made the announcement at a job appointment distribution program for land-losers of the Yadadri power plant at Praja Bhavan.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that the Congress government made a historic humanitarian decision to provide jobs to all the land-losers, enabling 500 families to secure employment at the Yadadri power plant. He expressed confidence that these families would progress socially and economically, contributing to the development of the State.

Rejecting the opposition's criticism that appointment letters that he was distributing could simply be uploaded online, Vikramarka said the recruitment process was not a mere technical formality but a humanitarian gesture to support the families who had sacrificed their lands.

He also criticised the previous BRS government for neglecting the project for nearly two years after the National Green Tribunal imposed a stay on environmental clearances in October 2022. He said that delays in such a mega project, involving investments of thousands of crores, had imposed a heavy economic burden on the people of the State.

Vikramarka said that after Congress assumed power in December 2023, a fresh public consultation was conducted in February 2024 and environmental clearances were obtained. Since then, project works had been monitored daily, with a weekly task calendar prepared to ensure progress, he said.

He said that officials and engineers were held accountable if any scheduled tasks were not completed. Simultaneously, arrangements such as a railway line for coal supply and townships for workers and officers were being executed within fixed timelines, with coordination from BHEL, local representatives and officials, he added.

Two units had already been dedicated to the nation as a result of these practises, he said.

Vikramarka also said that through CSR funds, world-class education and corporate-level healthcare would be provided free of cost in villages around the power plant, ambulances would be made available in every mandal, CC roads and flyovers would be constructed to prevent road damage, and funds for land acquisition for road works would be generated.

Vikramarka said that even in 1978 when a Congress government was in place in the then united Andhra Pradesh, machinery was imported from Japan's Mitsubishi to generate electricity using pumped storage technology. He added that hydel, thermal, solar and wind projects established under Congress rule continued to function successfully.

He contrasted this with the Bhadradri power unit undertaken by the previous regime, based on "sub-critical" technology, which he termed a disaster for the State.

Vikramarka also claimed that the government was spending Rs 17,000 crore to supply free power to 29 lakh agricultural pump-sets and 51 lakh families (200 units per family). The State itself paid thousands of crores to power utilities on behalf of the poor. Despite the pressures of the free power schemes and the rising demand, the government had ensured uninterrupted quality power supply across Telangana, he claimed.