Industrialists, consumer rights bodies protest power tariff hike

Express News Service
Sep 11, 2009

Mohali The hike in power tariff in Punjab has evoked strong reaction from consumers in Mohali. Industrialists, farmers, local legislators, consumer rights’ bodies, domestic and commercial consumers — all are up in arms against the steep increase and are demanding its immediate rollback.
President of Mohali Industries Association (MIA) B S Anand said: “Since the new tariff is applicable from April 1, the arrears will be recovered in equal instalments from consumers. But how will the industry collect arrears from their customers? As this is not possible, the industrialists will now bear the whole burden.”

MIA General Secretary K S Mahal said: “This increase in tariff will hit the industry very badly. Already the industries in Punjab were suffering on account of special treatment given to neighbouring states, which had resulted in large scale shifting of industries out of Punjab.”

President, Consumer Protection and Awareness Council, N S Gill, said: “The increase in power tariff has come as a shock to the consumers, who are already at loggerheads to control their expenses on account of the rising prices of essential commodities. The hike, which is too steep, unexpected and unreasonable, should have been applicable from the date of issue of the tariff order and not retrospectively.”

General Secretary Colonel Angad Singh (Retd) said: “The Punjab State Electricity Board has not been controlling transmission and distribution losses, which are very high as compared to national level. Lack of planning and inability of the government to install new power plants have resulted in purchase of power at exorbitant rates from other states, causing unnecessary burden on the consumers.”

Kharar Congress MLA Balbir Sidhu said the state government has failed on all fronts and claimed that each and every section of the society is disappointed by the present regime, which has once again showed its “anti-public” face with the heavy increase in power tariff.

Terming it as “uncalled for” when the power supply remains suspended for most of the time, Kharar Citizens’ Welfare Council chairman Dr Pawan Kumar Jain has sought withdrawal of free power facility to agricultural sector to cover losses of PSEB instead of putting additional burden on consumers. Mohali Consumer Protection Forum president P S Virdi also strongly condemned the power tariff hike.