Bhubaneswar, Feb. 9: Hundreds of people, including political activists and representatives of the OdishaPower Consumers' Federation, today ransacked the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission office, forcing authorities to stop a public hearing on power tariff hike.
The protest followed an apprehension that the power tariff might go up by Rs 10 per unit. Chairman of the commission Panchanan Kanungo said: "Instead of organising public hearing on power tariff hike, the authorities should take steps to collect the outstanding arrears to benefit the ordinary consumers."
Kanungo said the people wanted to know why the state government did not appear before the Appellate Tribunal last year when there was a hearing on the tariff issue.
"The state government was made a party in the case. The tribunal had even sent it a reminder. Without appearing before the tribunal, the government allowed the private parties to get a favourable order. It clearly reflects that the government is hand in glove with the private companies," he said.
Elaborating on the issue, the leader said ordinary consumers were going to feel the pinch as the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity had imposed a Rs 5,500-crore burden on them.
"They are supposed to pay the dues with retrospective effect from 2006. The state failed to lodge its protest," he said.
BJPleader Bhrugu Baxipatra said: "We are not prepared to accept the power distribution companies' argument that they are incurring losses. A comptroller and auditor general (CAG) audit will only substantiate our claim. All the distribution companies should share the burden of Rs 5,500 crorethat is being passed on to the consumers."
The federation also demanded 30 per cent reduction in electricity charges and 50 per cent power subsidy for the agriculture sector.
Secretary of the commission Gopalkrushna Dhal said: "The objective of public hearing is to enable the consumers to register their grievances and put forth their suggestions.We also issue regular advertisements to newspapers in order to create awareness among the consumers. Today's hearing was cancelled. The commission would decide later whether it would hold a public hearing."
The activists also urged the state government to ask the private companies to minimise the transmission and distribution losses. "Why should the state suffer because of their incompetence," said Rabi Behera, president of the Samajwadi party state unit.
This is not the first time that the city has witnessed protests over a proposal to hike power tariff.
People have in the past hit the streets to organise rallies and dharnas when electricity charges were raised in 2013. However this time around, the protests are likely to be on a larger scale because of the fear of a massive hike.
Besides, what the people are resenting is the proposal to impose the hike with retrospective effect. While the transmission and distribution losses at the all-India level stand at 27.15 per cent, they are hovering around 39 per cent in the state. The losses in the state are higher compared to states such as Andhra Pradesh (12.94 per cent) Delhi (20.16 per cent), Gujarat (17.3 per cent) and Kerala (15. 56 per cent).
