SHILLONG:
BJP, which is a constituent of the National People’s Party (NPP)-led ruling
Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (
MDA), has slammed the
government for
inflated electricity bills in the state.
“Soaring electricity bills are an
indirect tax imposed on
tribal people of the state. As the state cannot impose direct tax on tribal people, a new mechanism has been devised to loot the public through (inflated) electricity bills,” a statement issued by Meghalaya BJP vice-president Bernard N Marak said.
BJP called upon the chief minister, the power minister and all elected leaders to immediately rectify this problem.
“People have no earnings now because of the
Covid-19 crisis and many have not received their dues. So, the inflated electricity bills fail to offer any justification. Since BJP wants to ensure good governance in the state, we are highlighting this issue which is one of the major problems being faced by the public,” said the saffron party, which has two elected representatives in the state assembly, one of whom is a cabinet minister said.
“BJP fears this is a big scam. Chief minister Conrad Sangma should address this issue immediately as the entire state is facing this problem and particularly his constituency, Tura, is the worst affected,” it added.
“The only excuse the department gave is that meter boxes are defective. How can all meters be defective? Are defective meters supplied in entire state? Some people who used to pay Rs 250 have now received bills amounting to thousands of rupees. How is this possible?” the party asked.