Demands rollback of recent hike in electricity charges
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 12: The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) today stated that power projects in J&K are catering to the needs of other states instead of fulfilling the requirements of people who are not receiving proper electricity supply during winter.
Addressing a press conference here, PDP General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura said that the Government is following a wrong policy that needs to be corrected for the betterment of the people, especially the poor, who, he said, are facing difficulties.
“The availability of electricity is less than the demand, and despite that, they are signing MoUs with other states, selling the electricity generated here. It would be better to provide ample electricity to our own people,” he said, adding that it appears that our power projects are serving the needs of other states instead of our people.
Hanjura also criticized the administration for the recent hike in electricity charges, stating that people in both metered and non-metered areas are facing several issues due to the hike. Click here to watch video
“There has been a hike in electricity charges in metered as well as non-metered areas. Those in non-metered areas now have to pay nearly Rs 1300 instead of Rs 920; the same is the case with those in metered areas”, he said.
He alleged that there has also been an arbitrary increase in the load as well. “Those households which had an agreed-upon load of 1kw now have to pay as per 1.5 kw; those with 1.5kw now have to pay as per 2kw; this is nothing but injustice which needs to be taken note of.”
PDP leader alleged that LG administration is doing everything possible to make the people face issues on different fronts, underlining that the administration has not even fulfilled its promise of not charging the 15 per cent electricity duty.
“The poor people have been left to go nowhere; BPL, AAY categories used to get concessions, but the same no longer exists; the PMAY beneficiaries are also facing issues; for a single bulb they use, they have to pay Rs 1300 per month”, he said.
Hanjura added: “While we condemn this approach, we urge the J&K administration as well as the Govt in Delhi to roll back the hike so that the people heave a sigh of relief. They do not have enough electricity to supply, but what we get in contrast is the hike.”
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