Assam Cong Protests Against Power Tariff Hike, Promises 200 units free electricity
Guwahati: The Assam Congress staged protests across Assam against the recent hike in power tariff by the state government, while promising to provide free electricity up to 200 units if the party comes to power in the state.
Accusing the state government of mishandling resources, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticised the state government for a reckless loan and serious debt situation in Assam.
He said that the state government has made the life of the common man miserable by increasing taxes on all items.
Asserting that Congress will not let anyone accumulate wealth by strangulating the public, Mr Gogoi also assured that Congress will provide at least 200 units of free electricity to the people if voted to power.
It is significant that the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) had issued a notification mentioning that 30 paise per unit will be levied on domestic consumers upto 300 units a month as Fuel and Power Purchase Price Adjustment while for those consuming 300-500 units a month, a charge of 50 paise per unit will be imposed.
Moreover, a hike of Rs. 1.29 per unit will be charged for consumers with above 500 monthly units’ consumption.
However, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma later clarified, “The information regarding the pricing increase for power was incorrect. Electricity prices for household users who use up to 300 units per month remain unchanged. Consumers who use more than 300 units and up to 500 units per month must pay 20 paise per unit more.
“The consumers who use more than 500 units of electricity per month and business customers, additional charges have been levied on them. However, consumers who have usage up to 300 units each month do not experience this rise,” he said.
