Amid the ongoing power shortage in Telangana associated with the El Niño weather phenomenon, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy compared the severity of the situation to the COVID pandemic and warned of suspending IAS officers if found negligent.
He specifically warned the Special Chief Secretary of the Energy Department, the Chairman and Managing Director of TG-GENCO (Telangana Power Generation Corporation Limited), and other IAS officers concerned of suspensions if they failed to ensure power supply.
At a reviewing meeting with officials on the impact of El Niño held on Wednesday, October 14, CM Revanth Reddy ordered electricity department officials to ensure round-the-clock power supply to farmers until harvest is completed, to prevent crops from withering amid the rainfall deficit conditions in the state.
The Chief Minister was reportedly upset about recurring power outages across the state, criticising the failure of the energy department to increase power generation amid worsening power shortage. CM Revanth also inquired about not generating power in full installed capacity at the Yadadri thermal power plant despite arrangements made for coal linkages from Naini and Mahanadi in Odisha.
“I am accountable to the people. The situation has not changed despite my repeated instructions to supply electricity to protect the standing crops. I will not tolerate actions that cause hardship to the public, and I will not spare anyone found acting negligently," the CM said at the meeting, according to his office.
He also called the situation arising from the impact of El Niño a disaster similar to the COVID pandemic. He said that the duration of the conditions was unpredictable, and ordered every department to formulate a robust action plan till June in anticipation of the impending crisis.
Follow TNM's WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.