Jammu: The Shiv Sena (UBT) Jammu and Kashmir unit on Saturday reminded the Omar Abdullah government of its electoral promise to provide 200 units of free electricity and demanded that the existing tariff be retained for consumption up to 400 units to provide relief to ordinary and middle-class households. The party warned that if the government chooses to increase power tariffs instead of fulfilling its promise and further burdens consumers, Shiv Sena will launch a mass agitation from the streets to the Assembly, along with the people.
Addressing a press conference at the party’s Jammu office, Shiv Sena (UBT) J&K president Manish Sahni said the proposed tariff structure provides for ₹2.45 per unit up to 200 units, ₹4.20 for 201–400 units and ₹4.60 per unit for consumption above 400 units. He questioned the rationale of pushing middle-class families into a higher tariff slab merely for crossing the 200-unit threshold.
Sahni said the government had promised 200 units of free electricity during the elections, but appeared to have forgotten the commitment while preparing to increase the financial burden on consumers. In Jammu’s extreme summers and winters, he said, the use of fans, coolers, air conditioners, heaters and geysers makes consumption beyond 200 units a normal household requirement rather than a luxury.
“The government is worried about its losses, but seems to have little concern for the pockets of the people whose votes brought it to power,” Sahni said.
He also questioned the proposed hike in view of continued unscheduled power cuts, saying that consumers were being asked to pay more despite not receiving uninterrupted electricity.
“When people are not getting uninterrupted power supply, increasing the tariff and collecting more from them amounts to double injustice,” he said.
Sahni reiterated that there should be no tariff increase up to 400 units, while higher rates could be applied progressively to consumers with substantially higher consumption.
“Electricity is a basic necessity of the people, not an ATM for covering the government’s losses. If tariffs are increased up to 400 units, Shiv Sena will not remain silent. We will take the fight from the streets to the Assembly along with the people,” he warned.
