Bhopal: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), state unit has demanded the state government to immediately reduce the power tariff by half and also to cancel the contracts of purchasing power from all private companies. AAP’s state convener Alok Agarwal, in support of the demands, is also sitting on indefinite fast from May 26. The party is also demanding loan waiver to the farmers.
Agarwal alleged in a press conference here on Sunday, that the state government has intentionally not done any hike in power tariff in the election year. He claimed there is need to reduce the power tariffs by half. Citing the example of Delhi government, Agarwal said the AAP government, led by Arvind Kejriwal, further slashed the price of power tariffs by Re 1 to Rs 1.45 per unit.
Agarwal said Delhi purchases electricity from the state and supplies to its people three times lesser than the rates in Madhya Pradesh. Agarwal claimed when Delhi government could supply electricity at lesser rates to its people than why not Madhya Pradesh. He said per capita income in Madhya Pradesh is less than Delhi and that is why power tariff should also be less in the state.
Agarwal alleged that the rates of electricity in the state are higher just to extend profit to the private companies. He claimed that average demand of electricity in the state is 8000 megawatt while we already have 18125 megawatt of electricity. Agarwal alleged that public was bearing a loss of Rs 2000 crore per year following contracts of power supply done with the private companies.
He also alleged that electricity was purchased from Lanco Amarkantak Power Limited in April, 2013 at the rate of Rs 3.12 per unit without approval of the authority, causing of a loss of Rs 1000 crore. Agarwal said illegal contracts with private power companies and corruption have resulted in higher power tariffs in the state. Agarwal also claimed that it is difficult to understand that the state government sells additional electricity at the rate of Rs 2.70 per unit but the people of the state are getting power supply at the rate of Rs 7 to 8 per unit.
