Several members belonging to various outfits courted arrest on Monday while staging a demonstration in front of the Electricity department. They were protesting against the recent increase in tariffs.
Leading the demonstration, G. Sugumaran, secretary, Federation for People’s Rights, said the department had increased power tariff twice in the last three years putting additional strain on household spending. He demanded that the government intervene immediately and ensure that the abnormal increase in power tariff was withdrawn at once.
While power connections of ordinary consumers were disconnected for non-payment of bills, the department had not taken any step to collect arrears from major industries that owed several crores of rupees, he alleged. The increase, which is effective from June, would see the monthly domestic bill going up from ₹20 to ₹145. The worst hit would be those using above 400 units.