Condemning the hike in electricity tariff and condemning the anti-people ruling NR Congress and BJP coalition government today in front of the power department head office, A.DMK A protest demonstration was held under the leadership of State League Secretary Anbazagan.
During this demonstration, the ADMK members tied electric wires around their necks, pulled the door of the office and locked it and chanted slogans. Following this, the police arrested more than 500 ADMK members who participated in the protest.
In this demonstration, ADMK State League Secretary Anbazagan said:-
The ruling NR Congress-BJP coalition government in Puducherry has been increasing the electricity tariff twice a year, causing great harm to the poor and middle class. The ruling BJP coalition government has announced this increase in electricity tariff as a revenge to the people who ignored the BJP in the parliamentary elections.
Puducherry state has electricity connections for about three lakh 50 thousand houses. 45 paise to Rs 2.70 for people using first 100 units, Rs 75 to Rs 4 for people using 101 to 200 units and Rs 5.40 for people using 101 to 200 units. – increased by 60 paise to Rs. 6 and for units of 301 and above by 70 paise to Rs. 7.50 from Rs. 6.80.
Last 2 years ago the standard rate for electricity used by each household was Rs.40. It has now been increased to Rs.35 per kilowatt. If they had initially applied to the power department saying that they needed 20 kilowatts of electricity per house, now they have to pay about Rs.700 per month as flat rate. The status fee has been raised to around Rs 700 per house from Rs 40. Similarly, the level fee for trading companies was Rs.40 in total. Now they have increased it more than Rs.200 per kilowatt.
In respect of Puducherry state, the government collects electricity charges from the people under new headings such as monthly electricity bill, penalty charge, level charge, additional tax charge to cover electricity cost, late charge. Currently, 10 percent tax is being collected to clear the arrears incurred in compensating the electricity price of the government for the last 3 years.
Apart from this, tax is collected from the public in connection with line loss due to power theft. Employees working there are also taxed by consumers. However, while pointing to the increase in electricity tariff, the government is citing a reason that we are acting according to the Electricity Regulatory Commission for Goa and Union Territories.
This Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission was brought in during the Congress-DMK alliance rule at the centre. The joint commission approves the tariff hike after seeking approval from the Electricity Regulatory Commission on behalf of the government power department, which governs electricity tariff hikes. It is shameful for the government to increase the electricity tariff and say that we can’t do anything about the reality.
Under the ADMK rule, first 100 units of electricity have been declared free for all households using electricity. Similarly, in Puducherry too, the first 150 units of electricity should be subsidized for all households or the government should completely cancel the increased electricity tariff.
Puducherry is an electrified state. Power sector is also running profitably. The ruling government cabinet has taken a policy decision to privatize this profitable power sector. A related case is pending in court. However, the ruling government has introduced a prepaid system in electricity bill collection so that the private company that has purchased the power industry does not face any difficulties in the future. Similarly, the government has done a huge betrayal to the people by raising the electricity tariff and benefiting the private company that has bought the power sector in the future. This is strongly reprehensible. In this matter, the Lt. Governor should take appropriate action and cancel the increased electricity charges.
500 rupees monthly electricity bill was collected in the past but after BJP NR Congress rule it is 3000 rupees per month. This is strongly reprehensible. Due to this increase in electricity charges, the prices of all commodities will go up inversely. We inform you that if the ruling BJP government does not take appropriate action on this issue, the AIADMK will hold a series of protests at the state level. Thus he spoke.
