“Amid huge rise in power tariff bills Government asking the consumers of low income groups falling in the category of “Below The Poverty Line” (BPL) category to wait for the facility of 200 unit free power till April has reduced the politics of freebies to a crude joke in Jammu & Kashmir”.
The huge surge in power tariff bills this winter is attributed mostly to the hike in power tariff rates announced in June last year amid a promise of 200 units free power by the incumbent Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during the campaigning of assembly elections in October last year. Forget about the promise of 200 units free power promised by the Chief even after the assembly elections the consumer demands for review of the power tariff rates and replacement of defunct smart meters are not heard well by the top functionaries of the Kashmir Power Development Corporation Ltd(KPDCL). What hurts the common consumers is Kashmir is the fact that many people settling in different states of the country during the chilly season of winter are experiencing a drop in the power tariff rates in the states where they settle for 2-3 months during winter periods and a huge jump in the power tariff bills they receive for their parental houses in Kashmir. Amid huge rise in power tariff bills Government asking the consumers of low income groups falling in the category of “Below The Poverty Line” (BPL) category to wait for the facility of 200 unit free power till April has reduced the politics of freebies to a crude joke in Jammu & Kashmir unlike many states and several Union Territories of the Country. There is already a common perception among the people that the facility of 200 units free power would have given a huge relief and respite to the the consumers of low income groups falling in the category of “Below The Poverty Line” (BPL) category during the chilly months of winter when the power consumer levels rise to unprecedented heights in Kashmir Valley. Promising removal of smart meters and 200 units free power facility to consumers of all classes and categories irrespective of their income slabs before the elections and advising them to develop the habit of avoiding use of heating appliances in the freezing cold of winter is quite contrary to the harsh realities of winter and henceforth an impracticable sermon of the top helmsmen in Jammu & Kashmir.
“Government’s decision to announce 200 unit free power for the people of one class (The Lowest Income Group) and enforce the hiked power tariff rates on majority of the people of other higher income groups would be yet another blow to the politics of freebies propagated by National Conference the political party in power during the campaigning of assembly elections in October last year. Government asking consumers to purchase fresh smart meters for replacing the defunct ones is yet another cause of increasing conveniences for the consumers during chilly period of winter in Kashmir. Finally the Government’s interest in protecting the rights of consumers would be judged by its actions on growing demands for immediate cuts in power tariff rates to bring them at par with the power tariff rates of other states and Union Territories of the country and free replacement of defunct smart meters for consumers of all categories across Jammu & Kashmir”.
Now 200 units free power if at all announced in April would be almost no concession for consumers of low income groups falling in the category of “Below The Poverty Line” (BPL) category as power consumption levels drop to unprecedented levels from March onwards till October. As the demand for 200 units free power from people of the highest to the lowest income groups is going viral on social media sites, Government’s decision to announce 200 unit free power for the people of one class (The Lowest Income Group) and enforce the hiked power tariff rates on majority of the people of other higher income groups would be yet another blow to the politics of freebies propagated by National Conference the political party in power during the campaigning of assembly elections in October last year. Government asking consumers to purchase fresh smart meters for replacing the defunct ones is yet another cause of increasing conveniences for the consumers during chilly period of winter in Kashmir. Finally the Government’s interest in protecting the rights of consumers would be judged by its actions on growing demands for immediate cuts in power tariff rates to bring them at par with the power tariff rates of other states and Union Territories of the country and free replacement of defunct smart meters for consumers of all categories across Jammu & Kashmir
