Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Opposition today has objected to the increase in power tariff of six per cent, claiming it will be an overburden for the people of Goa.
The power tariff in the State is likely to be hiked from April this year. Several petitions were filed by the Electricity Department, including the proposal for a tariff hike for the financial year 2023-2024.
Goa Forward and Congress party leaders today attended JERC Public Hearing for a 6% increase in power tariff.
Goa Forward Party Gen Secretary Durgadas Kamat said that It is also to be noted that the NITI Aayog fully agrees with the points raised by us. In November 2022, NITI Aayog cautioned the Goa Govt over its “high” power tariff.
“In a document presented to the CM, the Aayog also recommended a reduction of the AT&C losses, which it said was high. Does the Goa Govt not agree with these findings of the NITI Aayog also?” he said.
He further said that the wording of the petition now makes one thing clear the Goa Govt has proposed the hike, and the JERC only approved it in the past; power ministers of the BJP Govts have claimed that JERC had imposed power tariff hikes on the commoner, but now this one more lie nailed.
“It has always been the case that the Govt proposes tariff hikes, and the JERC approves them based on figures provided by the Elect Dept, which show gaps in revenue to justify the hikes,” he said
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao said that this proposed hike is not in the interest of Goa and questioned the government as to why it cannot give any subsidy.
“We have raised our objections with authority here, and it is high time that the government, instead of giving relief, is overburdening the common man,” he said.
Congress President Amit Patkar said that objections had been given to authorities in writing.
“Common man is being burdened. With 6 per cent with 134.96 cr is the revenue, and the reason is coal cost is high,’ he added
The State government has filed petitions before the JERC for approval of the annual performance review for the fiscal year 2022-2023, aggregate revenue requirement for 2023-2024 and tariff proposal for the financial year 2023-2024.
The power tariff for domestic low-tension consumers is Rs 1.60 per kWh for 0-100 units consumed. If revised, it will be hiked to Rs 1.69/kWh. Similarly, tariffs for another category of consumers will also be increased accordingly.
