A senior leader from CG Congress party on Tuesday accusing the BJP announced to stage protests in Chhattisgarh against the hike in power tariffs and the installation of smart meters. Congress accused the government in power of burdening consumers with rising costs and inflated electricity bills.
His remarks comes against the recent approval by the Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters in Raipur, state unit president Deepak Baij opposed the 6.23 per cent power tariff hike approved by the Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission (CSERC). Baji accused the goverment of burdening the common people with exorbiant electricity bills.
“The government has increased electricity rates for domestic consumers by 30 to 50 paise per unit and for non-domestic consumers by 20 to 40 paise per unit. Farmers have also not been spared, with tariffs for agricultural pumps raised by 40 paise per unit,” he said.
The senior leader identified higher power tariffs, discontinuation of the half-electricity-bill scheme, and the installation of smart meters as the three main reasons behind the surge in power tariffs.
The CSERC on Monday approved an average increase of 6.23 per cent in electricity tariffs across all consumer categories, effective from July 1. The revised tariff includes an increase of 30-50 paise per unit for domestic consumers, 20-40 paise per unit for non-domestic consumers and 40 paise per unit for agricultural pump connections, while retaining several concessions for women’s self-help groups, hospitals and tribal regions.