Modi insisted on meters for farmers' pump sets, threatened Rs 25,000-Cr fine, I did not budge says KCR

ALAIR: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) President and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) addressing ‘Praja Ashirvad Sabha’ in Alair on Sunday said that he refused to install meters to farmer’s pumps in Telangana despite the insistence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre.

“The Centre insisted that all agriculture pump sets must be fixed with meters and charged as per meter reading. The fine to be imposed for not complying with this condition was Rs 25,000 crore. But I said I will not,” KCR said.

Explaining the reason why he refused to install meters and continued with 24-hour free power unlike any State in India including Gujarat, KCR said that day-long power allowed farmers to go for a staggered running of pumps thereby reducing pressure on the transformers and the entire distribution system.

“More power to agriculture coupled with enhanced irrigations means high yields and higher incomes for farmers, I don’t care if the Centre fined me for that,” the Chief Minister said.

On the other hand Revanth Reddy said that the farming sector would need just three hours of power and 24-hour power supply was a sheer waste, but farming in Telangana must be stabilised.

“Rytu Bandhu is for stabilising agriculture. Congress might say that we are wasting taxpayers' money, but today we are producing 3 crore tonnes of paddy, and the Dharani portal is saving you and your land from the hands of unscrupulous elements,” KCR pointed out.

Urging voters of Alair not to get carried away with speeches of leaders like Rahul Gandhi who regurgitate speeches written by local leaders he asked them to use their wisdom and vote in the ensuing elections and elect a BRS candidate. “Your votes must be taller than the height of the newly built Yadadri temple,” he said adding that the lands around the temple skyrocketed bringing in windfall gains to the region.

He said soon Mallannasagar of KLIP, Gandhamalla, Baswapur reservoirs would be full and Yadarigutta Gandi Chervu would receive water soon. He informed them that 80 percent of the work on the Aswaraopalli canal was almost ready and it would irrigate the entire Alair mandal. He said that the Government would build more check dams on Cholleru and Ikkeru streams.