PANAJI
Amid growing public anger over high electricity bills, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has stepped up its campaign for free electricity in Goa, demanding that the BJP government provide 300 units of free power to every household.
Addressing a press conference, AAP Goa president Valmiki Naik accused Chief Minister Pramod Sawant of misleading the Assembly during a recent debate on electricity tariffs.
Responding to Sawant’s challenge to the Opposition to name a State with lower electricity rates, Naik produced copies of what he described as “zero electricity bills” issued to consumers in Punjab, where AAP is in power.
“Pramod Sawant had said he would reduce tariffs if shown proof of a State offering lower rates. We have now placed that proof in the public domain,” Naik said.
Naik challenged the Chief Minister to honour his commitment made on the floor of the House and provide 300 units of free electricity to Goans.
He alleged that instead of discussing relief for consumers facing steep bills and penalties, Sawant and Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar had defended the existing tariff structure in the Assembly.
Naik said AAP MLAs Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva had repeatedly raised the issue during the Monsoon Session and demanded relief for consumers.
Making a financial case for the proposal, Naik claimed that 300 units of free electricity would benefit nearly 76 per cent of Goa’s households, or about four out of every five homes.
Based on JERC tariff rates, he said the scheme would cost around Rs 345 crore a year.
Naik argued that this would amount to only 1.14 per cent of Goa’s Rs 30,195-crore budget, making the scheme financially viable. He said the only obstacle was a lack of political will.
He maintained that wherever AAP forms a government, it fulfils its promise of free electricity, and pledged that the party would do the same in Goa.
