Centre asks Telangana to pay up Rs 6,757 cr power dues to Andhra Pradesh

NEW DELHI: In a significant development, the Centre, on Monday, directed the Telangana Government to pay Rs 6,756.92 crores to Andhra Pradesh towards what it described as power supply dues.

The Union Ministry of Power, in an order dated August 29, 2022, said that the total dues comprised Rs 3,441.78 crores towards principal amount and Rs 3,315.14 towards late payment surcharge, "as per applicable provisions". The order said that, post bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, APGENCO had supplied power to Telangana Discoms from 02.06.2014 till 10.06.2017, complying with clause C.2 of Schedule XII of AP Reorganisation Act 2014.

The Union Ministry of Power had received representations from the Andhra Pradesh Government, said Anoop Singh Bisht, Deputy Secretary, Union Ministry of Power in the order. "Whereas there is no dispute with regard to the amount to be paid for power dues - principal amount to the tune of Rs 3,441.78 crore and the late payment surcharge Rs 3,315.14 (up to July, 31, 2022) to be paid in addition to the principal amount as per the applicable provisions," he said.

The order further stated that Telangana had not paid for the power supplied to it for this duration. While mentioning that Andhra Pradesh had supplied the power following the instructions from the Central Government's Power System Operation Corporation as per the reorganisation act, it directed Telangana to pay up the power dues to Andhra Pradesh within 30 days.