Power tariff hike: BJP creates ruckus in Bihar Assembly

Patna, Mar 17: The opposition BJP on Tuesday created ruckus in the Bihar Assembly over hike in electricity charges by 15 paisa per unit in urban areas and 10 paisa per unit in rural areas and urged the government to immediately roll back its decision.

Leader of Opposition Nand Kishore Yadav cornered the Nitish Kumar government over the hike and sought immediate roll back of the increase in power rates.

"When prices of coal and diesel are going down, the Bihar government has decided to raise power tariff," he said.

Yadav rubbished the argument that the hike was needed to narrow the gap of loss to power companies and said their loss was basically due to "inefficiency" to bring down transmission and distribution losses to the tune of 44 per cent.

The Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC) on Tuesday approved an increase by 2.5 per cent across all categories of consumers except agriculture, public water works and street light consumers.

With opposition leader vociferously protesting power hike during zero hour, BJP members trooped into well and shouted anti-government slogans.

Yadav trained guns at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar saying recently he demanded from the Centre to compensate the loss to the state on account of 14th Finance Commission recommendation which has ended central grants and special fund due to reorganisation of state.

"On the same parameter, Nitish Kumar government shall pay Rs 113 crore which would be raised through hike in power tariff to bridge the gap of power companies," the Opposition leader said.

He also refused to buy the argument of the CM that the hike has been decided by Regulatory Authority and the state government has no role in it.

"How come a CM pleads himself helpless," he said. The CM was, however, not present in the House.

Vijay Chaudhary, Leader of JD(U) in the Assembly, reiterated Kumar's assertion that state government has no role in the hike. Speaker Uday Narayan Choudhary adjourned the House till 2 PM.

PTI