Amid ongoing protest from opposition political parties and consumer organisations, the new power tariff plan, involving 35 percent hike to urban consumers and 45 percent hike for rural areas, is likely to come in to effect from Monday.
UP Power Corporation limited (UPPCl) have already approved the new tariff coming in to effect from June 10 while opposition parties are holding state wide protests demanding roll back of hike. In last week political parties have held processions, burning effigies of state government, in state capital and districts.
Instead of reviewing the decision of hike in power tariff, the state government may announce about Rs 600 crore subsidy aimed providing relief to farmers from the hike, the sources at power corporation said.Notably ruling party is under attack from opposition parties as during previous assembly elections it had promised providing free electricity to farmers.
The chief minister, Akhilesh Yadav had also assured the public of not hiking the tariff until state government was in a position to ensure adequate power supply to all but government was forced to take untoward decision in view of piling up losses at power corporation.
Meanwhile a consumer body, UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad (UPRVUP) office bearers demanding roll back of hiked power tariff met Samajwadi party national general secretary Ashok Bajpai on Sunday.
UPRVUP chairman, Awadhesh Kumar Verma handed over a memorandum to Bajpai saying, hike in power tariff was unconstitutional as new tariff plan was prepared by the same consultant engaged by UP Power Corporation limited (UPPCl) and UP Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) simultaneously. SP leader assured to discuss the issue with chief minister with intention of reprieving consumers.