MARGAO
Benaulim Aam Admi Party (AAP) MLA Venzy Viegas has strongly objected to the hike in power tariffs proposed by the Goa Electricity Department (GED) for a host of reasons.
In a letter addressed to the authority, the AAP MLA said there was a lack of transparency and accountability in the fiscal transactions of GED in its day-to-day functioning as the sole power utility in the State.
He further said the high levels of T&D losses are totally unacceptable, going to the extent of saying that it is actually a theft, partly aided by the corruption in the GED.
“Every year, GED is supported with taxpayers' money by way of budgetary support to the tune of Rs 350 plus crore. This has been the case year after year with not a single year of improvement,” the MLA said.
He added: “If GED is to be treated as a commercial entity and permitted this tariff hike, what is the justification for it not functioning like a commercial operation and introducing double entry accounting and, like all commercial entities, have an annual balance sheet? Until it does this - introduce double entry accounting system," Venzy said.
While objecting to the hike in tariff proposed by GED, Venzy said, “Power is a basic need today. I and my party are wedded to the policy of "basic needs for free" to the people: electricity, water, health and education. In the States that we (the AAP) run the government, power up to 200-300 units in every billing cycle is free (at zero cost) to every household and the power utilities there still run in the green financially,” the Benaulim legislator said.
