Srinagar, July 9: Government’s proposal for a steep hike in power tariff has evoked sharp reaction in the Valley with consumers threatening to launch strong agitation should the government go ahead with its proposal.
 A large number of consumers, both domestic as well commercial, as also representatives of industry groups told Greater Kashmir that they would fight tooth and nail against the proposal they termed as “regressive and uncalled for.”

Industry consumers:
 President Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) Zahoor Ahmad Bhat said the proposal was wholly “uncalled for.”
 He said the federation had called an emergency meeting today to discuss this issue. “All the members denounced the proposal saying there was no need for increasing the tariff,” he said.
 The FCIK president said the tariff had been substantially increased in the previous year and “there is no logic in increasing the tariff this year again.”
 “Any further hike will kill the already ailing Industry in Kashmir,” he said adding that all the members of FCIK had appealed the government to immediately withdraw the proposal.
 He said: “The FCIK has decided to oppose the proposal at every stage and if need be all the industrial unit holders shall agitate till the proposals are withdrawn.”
 Nazir Ahmad Shikari, Secretary General FCIK said: “It is deplorable that the PDD has not been able to reduce its transmission and distribution losses over the years in spite of making tall claims and huge promises.”
 “Although billions of rupees are spent year after year on power reforms and infrastructure development, the T&D losses are still as high as 59.72 per cent, against average T&D losses of 25 per cent at National level,” Shikari said.
 “The FCIK had in several meetings with the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) pleaded that the tariff proposals of the PDD should be linked to T&D loss reduction targets. We have high expectation from the commission and hope that in the present case interests of the honest consumers shall be safeguarded and the demand shall be given due consideration,” he said.
 Meanwhile, the FCIK has also demanded that 25 per cent free power should be provided by Power Development Corporation out of its generation from its power projects which shall reduce the power purchase bill of PDD.

Domestic consumers:
 The domestic consumers said the steep hike proposed by the government is “unreasonable.”
 “How can a common consumer afford such an increase in the power tariff? The government before moving such a proposal should have considered the plight of the common man in Kashmir whose back has been broken by the rising prices,” said Majid Jehangir, a consumer from Srinagar.
 “It is quite bizarre to see government making such a proposal when it knows that unemployment, idleness, depression in trade, are rife in Kashmir,” said Abdul Latief, a youth from Downtown, adding that the government should immediately withdraw this proposal.
 Many consumers said the proposal would break the back of common consumer.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST