BHUBANEWAR: The BJP on Sunday warned the state government to escalate the unrest if the electricity tariff hike was not canceled immediately.
Launching an attack on the government for failing to file a petition for review with the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) for the review of the tariff orders for 2021-22, as promised by the Minister of Energy Dibya Shankar Mishra in the Odisha Assembly, the BJP said the silence of the ruling BJD proved that it is not with the people but in favor of a private monopoly like Tata Power.
Addressing a virtual meeting hosted by the Bhubaneswar District Unit, State BJP President Samir Mohanty said: “It is very unfortunate that a surplus electricity state like Odisha charges more for electricity. consumers while states that depend on us for their electricity needs provide cheaper electricity.
Doubling the electricity tariff hike twice in the space of six months as anti-people, Mohanty said a sharp increase of 50 paise per unit occurs when people go through tough times and face hardships. economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the BJP will not remain inactive until the government repeals the tariff decree.
Consumer activist and energy analyst Ananda Mohapatra said increasing electricity tariffs twice defies logic. He said the government has a major role to play in keeping the tariff at a reasonable rate so that consumers are not overburdened.
President of Odisha Bidyut Upabhokta Mahasangha Ramesh Satpathy accused the government of favoring private companies at the expense of consumers.
