VASCO
The Vasco Block Congress Committee, led by Congress leader Nandadeep Raut, staged a protest march to the Electricity Department office in Vasco on Friday, alleging a continuous rise in electricity bills and harassment of consumers seeking redressal of their grievances.
A large number of Congress workers and local residents joined the protest, raising slogans and demanding immediate relief from what they described as unjustified power tariff hikes and penalties.
Addressing the gathering, Raut questioned why the government continues to increase electricity tariffs despite the financial difficulties faced by ordinary people. He said the rising power bills have become a heavy burden, especially for poor and middle-class families already struggling with the increasing cost of living.
Raut also alleged that consumers visiting the Electricity Department to seek clarification or correction of their bills are made to move from one office floor to another without receiving proper assistance.
He claimed that instead of resolving complaints promptly, officials make consumers run from pillar to post, causing unnecessary inconvenience and frustration.
The Congress leader urged the government and the Electricity Department to review the recent increase in electricity charges, withdraw what he called excessive penalties, and ensure that genuine consumer complaints are addressed in a transparent and time-bound manner.
He warned that if the issues raised by the public continue to be ignored, the Congress party will intensify its agitation by launching a larger protest in the coming days.
The protesters also demanded immediate government intervention to protect consumers from rising electricity costs.
