Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission public hearing, strong opposition to electricity tariff hike

On behalf of the Power Corporation, it was said that for better power supply, continuous work on infrastructure is needed. Underground cabling, grids and substations are proposed to be constructed. In such a situation, a huge amount is required. This work will be done only when the power tariff is available. The Commission said that the views of all have been heard. The Commission will only take its decision on tariffs after serious consideration that there should be no injustice to anyone. On behalf of the Commission, Member Law Mahendra Prasad and Member Technology Atul Kumar addressed the hearing. Director (Commercial) Arvind Kumar, Ranchi GM PK Srivastava and other officials were present on behalf of the corporation.

At the public hearing, NK Patodiya, Ajay Bhandari, Sunil Gupta of Laghu Udyog Bharti, Arun Chhawchharia of Seva Sadan, Aditya Malhotra etc. also opposed the fee hike.

Former Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Maru said that when he was an MP, he had discussed the rules for restructuring the Electricity Board with the then Power Minister. The restructuring was done so that people get electricity at cheaper rates and losses of power corporations are reduced. There is a 30 per cent deficit in Jharkhand, while in Andhra Pradesh it is only seven per cent.

FJCCI president Kishore Mantri said the poor are benefiting from 200 units of free electricity. But it is not fair to impose the burden of tariff on the middle class who use it the most. We are sitting on a coal mine, but how is it that Jharkhand’s tariff is higher than that of Gujarat and other states?

Anjay Pacheriwal, on behalf of Jessia, said that normally a decision should be taken within 120 days of the tariff petition being filed. After 270 days, public hearing on this tariff will be held. In such a situation, the tariff should not be considered. There is no information on how much JBVNL bills and charges. AT&C’s loss is 31 per cent. Instead of reducing the deficit, it is increasing.

Businessman BK Tulsyan said the commission is also missing. The State Advisory Committee meeting is supposed to be held every three months, but it is not taking place. Just 45 years ago there was no need for a generator in Gujarat. While in Jharkhand a generator is still needed today. We are 50 years behind a state in the same country. We need electricity 24×7. It is the job of JBVNL to see how it will be achieved. They do not even have any grievance redressal cell.

Gargi Srivastava, on behalf of Gajanan Ferro Alloys, said that the Electricity Corporation’s own accounting is incorrect. 33 KV people are also to be given a three per cent discount. But the power company never gives discounts. The tariffs of a loss-making society should not be considered.