Power consumer association says no to tariff raise

EOI, Darjeeling, 14 Nov 2014: Saying no to any more increase in power tariff, the Darjeeling district committee of the All Bengal Electricity Consumers’ Association on Friday said it would start a statewide agitation if the demand was not heeded and asked the people of the hills to support the cause.

ABECA Darjeeling district committee general secretary Shankar Pal said in Darjeeling: “After the Left Front departed, we were hopeful about electricity tariffs decreasing. But we were wrong. Instead, the Trinamool Congress government, citing various reasons, has already increased the tariff four times giving the common people a lot of financial problems,” he said.

Pal also pointed out that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had promised to reduce the tariff by 5-7 paisa per unit before the Lok Sabha election.

“She has not kept her promise even after eight months. The tariff has instead increased by about Rs6.58 per unit and we fear we may soon end up paying Rs20 to Rs25 for a unit,” asserted the general secretary.

The ABECA intends to submit a memorandum to the Darjeeling district magistrate on November 20 with an 11-point charter of demands.

The demands include creating a separate tariff for the north Bengal region, revoking illegal MVCAs, providing free electricity to farmers having six acres of agricultural land, charging BPL consumers Rs0.50 per unit, stopping the existing spot-bill system and providing a separate metre for tea garden workers.