the goan I network
PANAJI
Health Minister and Valpoi BJP MLA Vishwajit Rane on Saturday expressed sharp opposition to the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission recommendation for an average hike of 6.4 per cent in power tariff in the state.
He has threatened to stage a midnight vigil along with the people of Sattari if the hike isn’t rolled back by April 30.
Briefing the media in Panaji, Rane said, “I have requested Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar and the department to keep the JERC recommendation in abeyance. I will also write to the three-member committee of the state government.”
Rane sought to point out that a large section of Goans is struggling to make ends meet since the closure of the mining industry on March 16.
“People of Sattari have given the Electricity Department time till April 30 to withdraw the hike. If the recommendation isn’t withdrawn by then, 10,000 people from Sattari will come here and offer a token midnight vigil,” Rane declared.
Electricity Department had previously submitted before the JERC that approximate revenue lag of Rs 473 crore for this financial year can be met through a tariff hike. Based on the petition made by the Electricity Department, JERC recommended an increase from April 1 of 11 per cent for domestic consumers and four per cent for commercial consumers, an average 6.4 per cent.
“We don’t have to accept all the recommendations of JERC. The elected representatives can’t bow down to the bureaucracy when the state is in turmoil. JERC is not accountable to the people. We are the elected representatives and hence, we should stand by our constituents,” Rane said terming the decision as “unacceptable”.
He also voiced the need for an electricity commission to regulate power tariff.
