: The BJP on Sunday demanded immediate roll back of hike in electricity rate to protect the interest of consumers.
“The decision to increase electricity tariff will put enormous burden on common people, particularly poor farmers and economically weaker sections,” senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra told reporters here.
Stating that the Odisha Government had decided to increase power tariff in connivance with Odisha Electricity Regulatory (OERC), he demanded the hike be rolled back.
Referring to the cancellation of licenses of three power distribution companies Wesco, Southco and Nesco in Odisha recently, the BJP leader sought thorough audit of these companies by the auditor general.
In addition, CESU, the state-run distribution agency, should also be audited in order to present the sorry state of affairs before the people, he said, adding that the Odisha Government was equally responsible for leaving the power distribution system in doldrums.
Claiming that the Naveen Patnaik Government deliberately protected the distribution companies for its own interest, Mr. Mohapatra said the State-run CESU was also in shambles as its liabilities stood at Rs 1,100 crore, higher than other three distribution companies. - PTI
