Mumbai : There is no respite for the electricity consumers as the BEST intends to continue charging additional tax to cross subsidise its loss making transport wing for yet another year.
The 10.5 lakh electricity consumers of BEST will have to pay Transport Deficiency Loss Recovery (TDLR) until 2017 as the BEST is yet to recover Rs 3,500 crore. Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) had given BEST to charge its electricity consumers until 2016 and recover Rs 3,500 crore. So far only a little over Rs 1,200 crore has been recovered.
An official from BEST said, “While some amount will be recovered by 2016, Rs 1000 crore will still remain to be collected and will be carried over and charged in 2017 in the power bills.” There has been strong opposition from the committee members during the budget discussion over TDLR being charged in the monthly bills.
“The same tax (TDLR) will be charged under the name of regulatory charge by the MERC,” added the official.
OP Gupta, General Manager of BEST said, “We will approach the MERC for permission to carry forward the pending recovery to 2017. The decision will be made depending on the judicial verdict and the decision MERC takes.”
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