Shankar Rao condemns power surcharge

HYDERABAD: Causing embarrassment to the Kiran Kumar Reddy government, textiles minister P Shankar Rao has criticised the state government’s decision to recover the Rs 740 crore spent on buying power during the Sakala Janula Samme period from people by way of power surcharge.“I strongly object to such a decision. The Rs 740 crore spent on power purchase is a very meagre amount compared to the losses incurred on account of pilferage, transmission and distribution. The proposal to levy service tax to make up the loss must be withdrawn immediately,” he said.Talking to newsmen at the Congress legislature party office here, Shankar Rao also criticised the decision on three days of power holiday for industries.He wanted the chief minister to take steps for purchase of more power from other states to ensure proper supply to industrial units since a large number of labourers, daily wage earners, contract employees and others depended on them.He also urged the central government to extend required financial assistance to the state keeping in view the fall of revenue to the state’s exchequer due to the Telangana agitation.With regard to separate Telangana issue, the minister urged the Congress core committee members, who include prime minister Manmohan Singh, to take an early decision to accord statehood to the region.He termed the Sakala Janula Samme as the first of its kind in the world on account of the number of suicides committed for a single cause.Even national leaders like Prakash Karat (CPM) and AB Bardhan (CPI) were urging the Centre to take an early decision on Telangana, he said and exuded confidence that the Centre would take a `positive’ decision on Telangana shortly.Shankar Rao assured to extend required financial assistance to a youth from West Godavari district who was suffering from kidney failure.“I will see that proper treatment is provided to him by bringing him to Hyderabad and bearing all his medical expenses from my salary,” he said.