Goemkarponn desk
The Aam Aadmi Party leaders lambasted the BJP government on Wednesday over the high water and power bills, demanding that the state government withdraw the free water distribution scheme and roll back the revised tariff immediately.
All India Vice President of AAP Youth Wing and State Coordinator Siddhesh Bhagat has given an ultimatum of a one-month. “If the government does not roll back the revised tariff, the AAP will stage a protest”, Bhagat said.
Bhagat stated that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has failed to implement the free water scheme. He said, “After AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal promised free electricity and water to the Goans if the AAP formed the government, the BJP government tried to copy AAP. But they failed miserably. Only Arvind Kejriwal knows the formula of providing free water and electricity”.
“Ordinary people are receiving water bills ranging from 40,000 to 1,00,000 as a result of the revised water tariff. Previously, a 15 unit cost Rs 1.50, a 15-50 unit cost Rs 5.50, and a 50-65 unit cost Rs 12. They now charge Rs. 3 per unit for 0-15 units, Rs. 9 for 15-25 units, Rs.15 for 25-40 units, and Rs. 15 for 40-50 units. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s free water scheme provides free water until the 16 unit. If a family has consumed 0.1-0.2 units more then they are no longer eligible for this scheme”, Bhagat elaborated.
AAP Vice President Valmiki Naik demanded that the BJP government reject the latest JERC order, which permitted a rise in power tariffs by 8% for domestic consumers.
Naik said, “The BJP has previously stated that power tariffs will not increase in 2022. This assertion was jumla, as usual. The JERC has now approved an increase of 8% for the fiscal year 2022-23. Already, fuel prices have risen, cylinder prices have risen, Goans are paying high water bills and once the government announces, electricity bills will rise as well”.
“The BJP government’s price hike trend will put a lot of strain on ordinary people. AAP was the first party to raise the problem of high electricity bills in December 2020, knowing the hardships of the common people. The AAP then staged a ‘veej andolan,’ during which many Goans expressed their dissatisfaction with excessive electricity bills. Then there was power debate held between then State Power Minister Nilesh Cabral and Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain”.
“Water and electricity are necessities and therefore we demand the government to roll back the revised water tariff. Also, the government should reject JERC’s order. If the government does not act within a month, the AAP will stage a protest”, he added.