Various organisations, including Karnatak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist), have strongly condemned the decision of the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Authority (KERC) on allowing power tariff hike of an average 35 paise per unit.
In their press releases, the organisations have said that at a time when the common people are just recovering from the severe blow they suffered because of the pandemic-induced lockdown and economic slow down, the Government has allowed imposing further burden on them.
KCCI President Vinay Javali has in the press release said that the people are already badly affected by rising fuel prices and prices of LPG and now a hike in power tariff will further be like rubbing salt into their wounds.
He said that during the KERC public hearing, KCCI had strongly objected to the hike and emphasised on stringent measures to check transmission losses of 13%, reduction of administrative expenditure and other measures to reduce losses being incurred by the electricity supply companies.
“However, the KERC decision has come as a big shock. A sum of ₹8,000 crore due to Hubballi Electricity Supply Company is pending with various local bodies. If that amount is recovered, then HESCOM will recover from loss. But the burden has been passed onto the consumers, which is not right,” he said, urging the Government to continue the earlier tariff.
Big blow
Terming the KERC decision as a big blow not only to the general public but also to various industries, including hospitality and manufacturing sector, SUCI(C) has sought to know what steps have been taken to plug the revenue pilferage and corruption in the electricity supply companies.
Dharwad District Secretary of SUCI(C) Ramanjanappa Aldalli said that SUCI(C) will strongly condemn the 4.33% hike in power tariff. It is nothing but an anti-people measure. The Government is shifting the burden of its inefficiency on commoners, he has said in the release.
He has said that at a time when the working class has been pushed to the streets and is struggling to make ends meet, the Government has shamelessly hiked power tariff. SUCI(C) will urge the Government to immediately withdraw this decision, he has said.
