The BJP on Thursday severely criticised the ongoing hearing on proposals for hiking power tariffs for households and distribution companies (discoms)’ initiatives for disconnecting electricity to houses on failure of payment of dues.  

“The State Government has adopted a policy of nurturing power distribution and generating companies at the cost of poor people,” alleged party State spokesperson Golak Mohapatra at a Press meet here.

Mohapatra said people have been worried over the proposals of power generating and distribution companies to hike an average of 50 paise for unit of power. He demanded that the State Government refrain from making any hike in power tariff.

Stating that 26 big industrial houses have owed power dues of Rs 1974 crore, Mohapatra said the State Government is not collecting dues from them and is putting the burden on common people. He alleged the companies, in connivance with the State Government and the administration, have brought stay orders from courts and are not paying dues.

Mohapatra wanted to know why the State Government is putting further burden on common consumers by purchasing power at Rs 3.81 per unit from outside and selling power at a lower price at Rs 3.21 to others States. He wanted to know who is in the middle gaining.

“The distribution companies owe Rs 3,937.48 crore to the Government. Besides, the State Government has facilitated loans of Rs 2,908.55 crore to them. Despite all these, why the State Government is interested in power disconnections and rising power tariff for the discoms,” wanted to know Mohapatra. Stating that power tariff in many States is below Odisha’s Rs 2.50 per unit till 50 units, Mohaptra demanded free supply of electricity for farmers and supply of power to MSME units at lesser rates.