The CPI(M) has condemned the steep hike in power tariff, which will put undue burden on the common man. Consumers, who use less than 300 units in a month, will be hit by the steepest hike in tariffs in the last 21 years.
After firing on those agitating against the hike in electricity rates in Basheerbagh, Hyderabad in the year 2000, not a single penny was raised for consumers using less than 300 units of electricity. It is unfortunate that the state government is gearing up to put the burden on the economically weaker sections of the society with effect from April 1, 2022, said party state secretariat member Ch. Narasimha Rao said in a statement on Wednesday.
When the AP State Electricity Board (APSEB) was functioning, higher tariffs were levied to cross-subsidize HT consumers to weaker sections. He alleged that the state government is now indulging in reverse cross-subsidy. The tariff was reduced for those using more than 1,000 units. The CPI(M) leader alleged that on one hand the government was expanding welfare schemes for the poor and on the other hand taxing them through hike in electricity rates.
He attributed the loss to the discoms to the privatization policies of the government and the splitting and privatization of APSEB into three separate wings. The loss of ₹10,045.61 crore incurred by the discoms in the previous years was on account of agreements entered into by them with private power companies. The central and state governments have decided to pay Rs 21 per unit to private companies in the name of ‘peak load’.
He recalled that former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy had opposed the PPA in every assembly meeting after the firing on the protesting workers in Basheerbagh in 2000. Now, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was welcoming the PPA and struck an agreement with Adani. The CPI(M) demanded that the state government drop its privatization policies.
In a separate statement, party district secretary K. Lokanadham also demanded withdrawal of hike in electricity rates.