Aam Aadmi Party has decided to launch a state-wide stir against the ruling Congress government in the Punjab for increasing the power tariff, if the hiked rates were not taken back.
The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission had last week announced an average tariff hike of 2.14 per cent across categories for 2019-20.
Senior AAP leader Aman Arora said the Congress government had increased the electricity tariff immediately after the Lok Sabha elections were over, which reflected the anti-people attitude.
Mr. Arora said the Congress government during its nearly two-and-a-half year's tenure had hiked power tariff for as many as five times, whereas the AAP led Delhi government had, instead of increasing the tariff, reduced it substantially.
“AAP would first try to bring the Congress government on board over the recent raise in power tariff, through a written word and holding meetings with them. However, if the government failed to review its decision and mull a roll back, the party would be left with no choice but to hold state-level protests,” he said.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday assured farmers of eight hours of power supply every day for the ensuing paddy season, beginning June 13, while promising 24-hour supply of power to all other categories of consumers.
At a meeting to review the preparations by Power Companies Punjab State Power Corporation Limited and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited for supply of power during summer and paddy season, the Chief Minister said his government was committed to the supply of quality power, in addition to 100% cost subsidy for agriculture and free power to various categories of consumers.
"The power companies briefed the Chief Minister about the arrangements made for meeting demand of 14,000 MW, even though the demand anticipated by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited was likely to be 13,500 MW," said an official statement.
