The state government's proposal to hike power tariff by 6 per cent for the financial year 2023-24 would be utter disgusting. The government has recommended a hike in the power tariff between 15 paisa to 60 paisa per Kilowatt for domestic low-tension consumers and 70 paise per Kwh for high-tension domestic consumers. If it is approved, it would be the third hike within one year and it would take effect from April 2023. The prices of essential items, including rice and pulses, are increasing and inflation is increasing to an extreme level. The NITI Aayog past had cautioned the Goa government over its “high” power tariff, which is Rs 5.80 per kWh for the industry. The consumer has to pay more but fight frequent power disruptions. Family budgets have already collapsed as living costs are increasing day by day. If such is the power tariff situation, though it is under government control, imagine what will happen if it is privatised. The government should roll back the power tariff hike to prevent the existing situation from going bad to worse.
