A consumer body on Sunday alleged UP Power Corporation limited (UPPCl) for illegally forcing UP Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) to hike the power tariff while it was consistently proving incapable in supplying sufficient electricity to consumers.
Contrary to statement of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav that state government is not in favour of hiking tariff until it would be in a position to supply sufficient power consumers, the power corporation was mounting pressure on regulatory commission for effecting hike in tariff against rules, said, UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad (UPRVUP) chairman Awdhesh Kumar Verma.
Stressing that Electricity Act, 2003 was being violated in ongoing procedure for hike in power tariff, Verma said, ahead of tariff fixation in 2012-13, inviting objections from the consumers, UPERC had held 7 public hearings while only 4 hearing has been organised this time. For the first time after constitution of UPERC hearings for tariff fixation are not being held in southern and eastern discoms.
Pointing at other major violation of Electricity Act in tariff fixation procedure, he said, the power corporation have proposed no hike in tariff for government departments this time which already have Rs 8000 dues against them.
Demanding chief minister to intervene in the matter, Verma said, with UP reeling under acute power crisis certainly the hike in tariff was bound to malign the image of government.