SAD-BJP coordination panel decision
Govt to subsidise hiked power tariff
Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 20
The Punjab government has decided to subsidise Rs 1,296- crore power hike ordered by the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) and write to the commission for permission to do so.

However till the case is not cleared by the commission consumers will have to pay enhanced bills which will be adjusted later in subsequent bills.

A decision to this effect was taken aftera day-long meeting of the SAD-BJP coordination committee, which ended today evening.

According to sources government nominees, including the Advocate General and the Chief Secretary besides the Power Secretary briefed the coordination committee on the legal and administrative problems in the way of roll back of the power hike ordered for the domestic, commercial and industrial consumers in the state.

The government nominees explained it was not possible to stop the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) from issuing the revised power bills to consumers. They said according to law it is mandatory for the PSEB to issue the revised bills after getting the tariff order from the Regulatory Commission.

The committee was briefed the PSEB was already getting reminders why it had not implemented the new tariff. It was also disclosed bills worth Rs 175 crore had been delayed since the five days and bills worth Rs 35 crore were issued by the board every day.

A two-member committee consisting of Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and Industries and Local Bodies minister Manoranjan Kalia has also been constituted to conduct resource mobilisation exercise. The committee will submit its report in one month.

Today’s development is a shot in the arm for the state BJP, which has forced its coalition partner to take steps to protect its core constituency. The move, which was initiated by Manoranjan Kalia following a meeting of the legislature party, will however cost the PSEB dear.

The board is already reeling from debt of more than Rs 7,500 crore and it will have to borrow more to offset the new proposed subsidy. Banks have recently denied more loans to the PSEB due to its falling credit rating.

Those present at the meeting chaired by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal included BJP general secretary Balbir Punj, veteran BJP stalwart Balramji Dass Tandon, state BJP Punjab president Rajinder Bhandari and Manoranjan Kalia. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Rural Development minister Ranjit Singh Brahampura, Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Tota Singh represented the SAD.