Roll back power tariff hike, Opposition demands in chorus

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Nov 30: The Opposition parties in the State are opposing in chorus at full throttle against the steep power tariff, 59 paise a unit, to be effective from December 1 this year. There have been pressure and demands from various quarters on Dispur to roll back the hike.

Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) has hiked power tariff for domestic as well as industrial consumers by 59 paise a unit. The new hike would come into effect from December 1. APDCL is facing a debt of Rs 265 crore in terms of fuel and power purchase price adjustment owing to which power tariff has been hiked.

Reacting sharply to the steep hike in power tariff, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) said: “The consumers in the State are affected the worst with the hike in prices of all commodities. As if to cap it all, the power tariff has also been hiked steeply. The decision of power tariff hike at the rate of 59 paise per unit on the pretext of fuel and power purchase price adjustment is an anti-people step. At a time when the people of the State face frequent load-shedding and lack of power for hours together in rural areas because of daily shortfall of around 300 MW power, the State Government has multiplied the problems of the consumers by resorting to such a steep power tariff hike. Instead of solving the power problem in the State, the government is just multiplying the problems of people. We appeal to the government to roll back the power tariff hike in the interest of the people and ensure adequate supply on power in the State.”

The AIUDF has also opposed the steep hike in power tariff in the State. Party president and MP Badruddin Ajmal said: “In the run-up to the last Assembly election in the State, the State BJP did promise to reduce power tariff in the State in the event of coming to power at Dispur. However, after coming to power, the government at Dispur being led by the party has hiked prices of all essential commodities. And now the government has resorted to a steep power tariff hike. There is frequent load-shedding in the State during the tenure of the BJP that promised to the people of the State to ensure uninterrupted power. The government is maintaining a silence on such issues. Dispur should roll back the power tariff hike immediately, and ensure uninterrupted power supply in the State.”