Tue Dec 17 10:03:57 UTC 2024: ## Telangana Assembly Debates State’s Debt Levels

**Hyderabad, December 17, 2024** – The Telangana Legislative Assembly engaged in a heated debate Tuesday over the state’s burgeoning debt, with the ruling Congress government and the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) trading accusations.

Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Bhatti Vikramarka defended the Congress government’s borrowing, claiming the previous BRS administration left behind a ₹7.11 lakh crore debt burden due to “indiscriminate borrowings.” He stated that the government was prepared to substantiate this claim through a legislative debate. Vikramarka detailed the government’s borrowings, including ₹52,118 crore in FRBM loans and ₹61,991.14 crore in non-FRBM loans from December to November. He also highlighted that ₹51,891.44 crore in loan guarantees had been drawn. He further asserted that the government had already repaid ₹66,000 crore in principal and interest on loans inherited from the previous government.

However, BRS member T. Harish Rao countered that the Congress government had borrowed ₹1.27 lakh crore in its first year alone, projecting a potential ₹6.3 lakh crore debt by the end of its five-year term. Rao cited RBI and CAG figures, claiming the BRS government had borrowed only ₹4.12 lakh crore over ten years. He accused Vikramarka of using misleading figures and served a privilege notice against him.

Vikramarka refuted these claims, emphasizing that the Congress government’s borrowing remained within the FRBM Act limits and was largely focused on clearing ₹40,000 crore in pending dues from the previous administration, with ₹14,000 crore already settled. He also mentioned the clearing of ₹11,000 crore in outstanding payments to power distribution companies. The debate continues.

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