JK govt likely to slash electricity tariff

Srinagar, July 16: With assembly elections round the corner, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said his government was mulling reducing electricity tariff and enhancing the scale of ration to provide relief to people of the state.

"The government will continue to take measures to give relief to the people like enhancing the scale of ration and reducing the electricity tariff," said Omar, who is also the National Conference working president.

He was addressing a workers convention at Handwara in Kupwara district in north Kashmir. "We are working on these matters and I have asked the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution minister to formulate a proposal for enhancing the scale of ration even if the state has to bear the cost," Omar said.

Launching a scathing attack on opposition PDP, he said his government was taking path-breaking decisions for welfare of common people particularly youths, but "the PDP is getting frustrated by these initiatives and are crying hoarse".

"The decisions relating to revocation of employment policy, enhancing the retirement age of government employees up to 60 years and those of job-seekers to 40 years besides service benefits to Rahbar-e-Taileem teachers are unnerving the PDP leadership," Omar said.

PTI