Srinagar, Apr 23: The Kashmir Centre for Social and Development Studies (KCSDS) Monday warned the state government of dire consequences if it implemented the fresh power hike approved arbitrarily by State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC).
 In a meeting chaired by KCSDS Chairperson Prof Hameedah Nayeem, the society has decided to challenge the fresh hike order along with the overall functioning of SERC in the court of Justice, a spokesman of KCSDS said in a statement. 
 “Members representing all walks of life including academia, medicos, technocrats, traders, industrialists, lawyers, social organizations and others conveyed their dismay over the role of J&K SERC to have approved the hike despite the objections filed by the civil society groups both at Srinagar and Jammu on technical grounds,” he said.
 “The SERC is acting like an aide to state government to apparently legitimize and implement their unwarranted dictates to overburden the hapless masses,” he added. 
 “The members observed with great regret that J&K SERC has allowed an unprecedented hike of over 150 percent in the power tariff since its induction in 2007 -08  from average value of Rs 1.40 per unit in 2006-07 (before SERC issued first tariff order for 2007-08) to Rs 3.65 /unit in 2012-13. Curiously enough, the rate revision has been affected twice just within a period of 5 months by a total price hike of 26 percent,” he said.
 “Contrary to its purpose of inception in terms of the J&K SERC Act envisaging dispassionate and impartial role on their part as an autonomous body, the commission has acted in tune with the dictates of the state government,” he alleged. 
 “Despite acknowledgement by the SERC with regard to non compliance of its various directives by the PDD with impunity, the former has failed to take any action against the latter. The SERC has confined its role to lone subject of overburdening the consumers by revising the tariff. The gross negligence on part of the SERC to discharge its duties in terms of the essence of J&K SERC Act as well as J&K Electricity Act speaks volumes about its passion towards the PDD rather than public in general and state exchequer in particular,” the spokesman said.
 “The discrepancy in the power management by PDD as disclosed by the Census report of 2011 which shows almost 8.00 lakh illegal electric connections in the state has been grossly ignored by the SERC. Such a state of affairs has ultimately tarnished the credibility of the SERC in the eyes of the society which aspect forces them to seek justice in the court of law,” he added.
 “Before any legal action is initiated against SERC and PDD, the chief minister is required to delve deep in the matter in its right and logical perspective and come out with a just and people friendly decision. The state government has a number of options to curtail down its losses in power sector by implementing reforms at all levels of procurement and distribution of electricity. Each percent curtailed in the A T&C losses can fetch the government 30 crores,” the spokesman said.
 “The unprecedented electricity duty of 22 percent charged the prime concern of the civil society, is in fact incompatible with such tax charged elsewhere and needs to be waived off in respect of domestic, commercial and industrial consumers,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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