Denizens oppose power tariff hike

Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries, other commercial and social organizations have opposed the tariff petition filed by Jharkhand Urja Vitaran Nigam Limited calling the proposal unjustified which will ultimately put extra and unwanted burden on the consumers. Meanwhile, Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC) Chairman Arvind Prasad during a public hearing held at Aryabhatt Auditorium in Ranchi said that the electricity tariff, proposed by the Jharkhand Bijli Vitaran Nigam Limited, will be considered.

“Whenever there is an increase in the tariff it is bound to be opposed by the people, and there is nothing wrong in it, but it is the Commission to decided that the tariff is determined on the basis of the actual expenditure of the company,” said the JSERC Chairman. The State Government, however, has assured that some amount of small consumers will be adjusted in the bill, he added.

The last public hearing was held on the issue of the proposed increase in electricity tariff by JBVNL which continued throughout the day from 11 am to 5 pm during which was taken part by representatives of various public, private and business organizations who opposed the proposal with their own arguments.

A businessman argued that they will have to shut their factories down if any further increase in electricity tariff is done as no one will take their products at a higher cost.

“It will create a new problem of unemployment as several factories will be forced to close down as it would not be possible for them to produce at a higher cost,” said the businessman.