Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Nov 28: Addressing a press conference in the city on Friday November 27, Dr V S Acharya, state home minister, advised the opposition parties, which have been heaping criticisms on the state government for the recent revision of the power tariff, to take time off to view the hike from practical perspective.

“Since the last six years, the state had not hiked the electricity rates. The state is forced to buy power at exorbitant rates to offset the shortage. The present set up is facing problems, as previous governments did not attach importance to augmenting power generation. The tariff hike is minimal. The opposition parties seem to be not realizing the compulsion under which the revision of rates was affected,” he stated.

Acharya pointed out, that since the year 2003, there has been escalation in the price of coal and petrol, and that the price hike of 34 paise per unit is not applicable for power consumers using less than 100 units per month. The rate has been revised by Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Authority, based on the pleas put forth by the electric supply companies, taking all aspects into account, and after inviting objections from the general public. The state government led by BJP has not revised any of the taxes after it came to power, he said.

“We had to buy power by paying nine to ten rupees per unit last year. Even though all the reservoirs in the state are full, the hydro electric power generation comprises only 34% of the state’s requirement. The government had no other go but to seek price hike because of the escalating costs,” he said. The minister pointed out that the heavy rains that washed away the railway lines in Raichur, Bellary etc., have affected the movement of coal and power generation. The government has taken steps to increase power generation. Varahi hydro electric power unit and two thermal power units in Raichur will get inaugurated soon. In Chattisgarh, the government’s plans to generate power have been moving on the right track, he divulged.