Bhubaneswar, Feb. 27: What Arvind Kejriwal has done in Delhi, a citizens’ forum here wants the state government to replicate — a power tariff slash for the aam aadmi.

The Confederation of Citizens’ Associations, an apex body of residents’ organisations in the city, has demanded that power tariff should be slashed by at least 20 per cent.

A delegation of the confederation submitted a memorandum to the energy minister in support of its demand.

The confederation cited that Odisha had a low electricity consumption rate in comparison to other states and its per capita income was also low. It pointed out that the Delhi government had recently decided to cut the power tariff by 50 per cent, while the Maharashtra government was working on a similar proposal.

Members of the delegation pointed out that several other state governments were mulling to cut the power tariff that has been adding to the problems of the people.

At present, the power tariff in the state is Rs 2.40 each for first 50 units and Rs 4 each for the next 150 units. While the tariff for 200 to 400 units is Rs 5 a unit, the rate beyond 400 units is Rs 5.40 a unit. The Central Electricity Supply Utility (Cesu) has suggested a 10 per cent hike on existing tariff to make up for its revenue shortfall. “We are protesting on behalf of the electricity consumers of the city who have to bear the burden of rising electricity tariff. In last two financial years, the tariff had been raised despite stiff objection from all quarters,” said R.N. Das, president of the federation and former chief secretary of the state government.

The confederation, in a separate memorandum to the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission, said that the commission should ensure that the power distribution companies reduce their aggregate technical and commercial loss to a permissible level, collect arrears from the state government, industries, big organisations and defaulters before entertaining any proposal for raising tariff.

A delegation of the federation recently met energy minister Arun Sahu and discussed this issue. The delegation argued that besides low per capita income and low power consumption, the state was able to produce power at low cost.

“Hydropower production cost is very less. Even thermal power is produced from coal, which is available abundantly in the state and thermal power projects are located in coal belts reducing the transportation cost. Keeping these things in mind, the power tariff should be less here,” said general secretary of the confederation Subhranshu Rath.

The members also demanded that the regulatory commission not allow the Cesu to increase power tariff. They said that the distributors should look into ways to reduce cost of transportation of electricity and collect arrears. “We demand a reduction of power tariff by at least 20 percent in Odisha,” said Rath.

Energy minister Arun Sahu said that he had received a memorandum in this regard. “We will look into the demands of people and a proper decision will be taken accordingly,” he said.