Withdraw power tariff hike: CPM to govt

Condemning the state government’s move to hike power tariff on the domestic consumers who use more than 300 units of electricity per month, Communist Party Of India (Marxist) state secretary BV Raghavulu on Saturday demanded that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy order the immediate revocation of the decision.

Talking to media persons after submitting a memorandum to Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy at the Chief Minister’s Camp Office in Begumpet, Mr Raghavulu stated the decision of the state government would burden over 11 lakh families, who consume over 300 units per month. “They would have to cough up 50 paise more for every unit they consume, each month,” the CPM leader pointed out.

“Instead of streamlining the generation and distribution sector, the government has decided to burden the people of the state by deciding to hike power tariffs and earn about Rs 631 crore,” said the veteran Communist leader.

He added, “the government should not burden the people in order to protect the interests of private power companies.” He demanded withdrawal of decision to hike power tariffs ‘immediately.’

Alleging that the government was planning to handover the power sub-stations in the state to private parties, Mr Raghavulu demanded that it drop these moves as they ( the private companies) would increase the power tarriffs. “If that happens, the power rates in the state will shoot up, further burdening the people who are already reeling under high inflation and various taxes,” he pointed out.

He said the CPM would stage agitations in front of power substations and Discoms if the government fails to withdraw its decision on the power tariff hike.

The AP Electricity Regulation Commission has suggested to the government to increase the per unit charge from the existing Rs 5.50 to Rs 6 for consumption above 300 units from April 1.

CPM MLA Julakanti Rangareddy and New Democracy Party members were also accompanied Mr Raghavulu when he met the Chief Minister.