With local body elections slated to take place in the next month, all those contesting candidates will face the heat due to the proposed tariff hike by the only power distribution company — Uttarakhand Power Corporation limited (UPCl) — in the State. With the proposed hike of nearly 52.38 per cent for illumination or public address or ceremonies having load up to 15 kW for the next financial year, the contesting candidates will have to bear more cost to woo voters through campaigning, if Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) approves the proposed tariff in the near future.
After the bugle for local body elections was blown, the ticket hopefuls have also started efforts to secure party tickets to contest. But, with the UPCl proposal for the recent tariff hike under various categories, the canvassing may become dearer in the near future. As per the proposed multi-year tariff under different category, the proposed tariff under illumination or public address or ceremonies is Rs1600 per day for the next financial year, which is at Rs1050 per day in current financial year against load up to 15 kW, which is nearly 52.38 per cent hike of existing tariff.
The department has also proposed hike of nearly 53.84 per cent for temporary shops set up during festivals having load up to 2 kW from existing Rs65 per day for the current financial year to Rs100 per day for the next financial year.
Well established sources revealed that UPCl has proposed to recover the revenue gap of Rs1885.12 crore relating to 2010-11, 2011-12, and 2013-14 financial year through tariffs in the next financial year and has deferred the recovery of the revenue gap of Rs773.91crore relating to 2012-13 financial year for the next financial year.
The UPCl has accordingly, proposed an average tariff hike of nearly 50.30 per cent in the existing retail tariffs of the consumers.
Department sources from UERC, who does not wish to be quoted claimed that the approval for the new tariff under different categories would be done after having public hearings. He further said that new tariffs if approved would be done keeping in mind domestic, commercial, industry and other electricity consumers besides, the corporation would be also urged to enhance facilities at billing collection centres.
Having filled with zeal and leaving no chance to taste the victory, those hoping to contest in local body elections across the State are also busy wooing party leaders. Besides, ruling and Opposition party in Vidhan Sabha — Congress and BJP — will leave no stone unturned to win the local bodies elections. The selection will be tougher as both the parties will select candidates in view of the lok Sabha elections to be held next year.
Since local bodies elections are also one of the ways to check the political party’s popularity among the masses or electoral strength, candidates, who fight election under this scheme, use all available resources at their disposal and give the contest their best shot and may cost dearer to them in the near future.