Roll back hike in tariff for irrigation: Jai Ram

Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur today urged the state government to roll back the hike in electricity tariff being charged from farmers for irrigation purpose.

Thakur, in a statement issued here, said that a hike of almost five times had been made in the power tariff for irrigation purposes resulting in the farmers getting hefty bills. “As compared to an average bill of about Rs 300 on the consumption of 500 units of power, the bills for the same consumption have gone up to Rs 2,800,” he added.

Thakur said that despite repeated pleas to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to save farmers from the burden of the enhanced power tariff on irrigation, no relief had been given. “It is very unfair to burden farmers, who feed the country, with a big hike in power tariff,” he added.

The former Chief Minister said that the Congress had come to power by giving false guarantees to the people of the state. “Leave aside fulfilling the promise of providing 300 units of free power, the state government has now enhanced power and water tariffs, burdening common people,” he added.

Thakur lamented that the state government was not even sparing farmers and had raised their power tariff. “It is a known fact that every state government provides subsidy on power to farmers than why the Himachal Government is burdening them with increased tarrif,” he added.

He said most of the decisions taken by the Congress government were anti-farmers, anti-youth and anti-employees, leading to resentment amongst all sections of society.