The Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) on Thursday staged an agitation against the State Government for hiking the power tariff by 15 per cent.
While leading the agitation, the CGPCC President Bhupesh Baghel, ClP leader TS Singh Deo and the party’s Raipur District President, Vikas Upadhyay termed the Government’s decision as a move to deceive the power consumers. The party leaders demanded to withdraw the order with immediate effect.
"The BJP-led Government had promised to cut down the inflation rate in its poll manifesto but instead it increased the electricity tariff by 15 per cent. While increasing the tariff, the State Government has once again ditched the power consumers" alleged Baghel.
The State Government has just rubbed salt on wounds as the hike will definitely burn a big hole in the common man’s pocket, he said.
"The Government has proposed 76 per cent hike in the electricity tariff meant for the farmers. The farmers will have to pay Rs2.25 per unit against the previous tariff of Rs1.30 per unit" claimed Baghel adding that the hike will affect middle class families the most.
The party leaders expressed the possibility that with increasing the power tariff, a hike is likely in the products of electricity based industries and other commercial services. Chhattisgarh has abundant of raw materials used in electricity production, still, the Government has once again increased the power tariff, they alleged. The party leaders also criticized the State government and the Electricity Board officials for errant power supply. The leaders claimed that there is only 8-10 hours power supply in villages while the situation is no different in urban areas. Besides, the problem of low and high voltage is causing damage to electrical equipment.
They said that the Government must resolve the issue in such a way that people must not suffer from power related problems. The party would continue the protest if the State government failed to withdraw the increased electricity tariff, they stated.