Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 23: Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd (Mescom) which has estimated to face a revenue deficit of Rs 718.21 crore has approached Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) for permission to hike power tariff by Rs 1.33 a unit.

The consumers have vehemently opposed this proposal. They have urged KERC not to entertain this proposal. In the public hearing organized in the auditorium of the deputy commissioner's office on Monday on the said proposal, industrialists, farmers and others were united in their opposition to any kind of tariff hike.

Industrialist, B A Nazeer, noted that Mescom managing director has stated that the company faced loss due to shortage in the sale of power due to covid19. "But the MSME sector is facing a crisis because of covid19. Please do not deliver another blow to us by increasing electricity charges. The industrial sector has slumped now. Initiative to give boost to small, medium and small scale industries should be undertaken now, and power tariff should not be increased," Nazeer demanded.

Devadas Shettigar, Rajendra Suvarna, Ashok and others, representing the ice plants, said that their plants are facing lot of problems. They pointed out that KERC had extended special concession to this sector last year as this is a seasonal industry. But this advantage could not be reaped last year and therefore it should be continued, they said. "The number of ice plants here has come down to 180 from the previous 210. More are preparing to shut down their ice plants," they said.

Udupi Bharatiya Kissan Sangh leader, Satyanarayana Udupa, pointed out that major reasons for the revenue shortage shown by Mescom are because of defect in distribution system and because it gets very less hydroelectricity. He also urged the company to recover the dues from the government so that it can to a large extent make good for the revenue loss. He also urged meters for the pump sets of farmers which is a long pending demand. He also blamed Mescom offices of becoming the dens of contractors as applications have to be obtained from the contractors association and applications have to be submitted.

KERC member Ravi M D was present. Abdul Rehman, Suresh Nayak, Raveendra Pai, Sunil Vasu, R Kumar and others presented their arguments.