Union Minister G Kishan Reddy urges Telangana to purchase full power capacity from NTPC Ramagundam

Hyderabad: Union coal and mines minister G Kishan Reddy on Friday urged the Telangana govt to purchase the entire power generated by NTPC Ramagundam, instead of limiting it to one-third of the planned capacity.Speaking at a press conference, he said: "In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ₹12,000 crore thermal power project at NTPC Ramagundam, the first phase of a 4,000 MW initiative. NTPC is now executing the remaining 3,800 MW in the second phase, with 80 per cent of the power allocated to Telangana."He added that NTPC has completed a 100 MW floating solar plant, while another 56 MW of solar capacity is under construction. Work on a 121 MW solar project at Ramagundam is also progressing rapidly.

Kishan Reddy said Neyveli Lignite Corporation is ready to invest ₹10,000 crore in solar power projects in Telangana and has sought land from the state government. "Electricity demand in the state is growing by 9.8 per cent annually, and by 2030, it will reach 33,773 MW," he said.

Accusing successive state govts of mismanagement, he said power utilities have been "pushed into deep losses." The state owes ₹30,000 crore to distribution companies and ₹42,000 crore to Singareni Collieries, he claimed. "This situation arose because of the BRS and Congress govts. To do justice to Singareni workers, the ₹42,000 crore dues must be cleared," he stressed.Slams Cong over ‘token' move ahead of bypollHyderabad: Union minister G Kishan Reddy on Friday accused the Congress govt of offering a ministerial post to a minority leader purely for electoral gains in the Jubilee Hills by-election. "After two years of neglecting minorities, the Congress has suddenly remembered them for votes," he said. "If there was genuine concern for Mohammed Azharuddin or the community, why wasn't a ministerial position given earlier?" He alleged that the ruling party was "misusing power and resorting to tokenism" to influence voters.