Cong: Rollback power tariff hike, replace defective meters

Raipur, April 20, 2011

The District Congress Committee (DCC) has demanded from the Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL) to rollback hike in power tariff and to replace the defective electronic meters. In this connection, the DCC members under the leadership of their president Inderchand Dhariwal will submit a memorandum to the Managing Director (MD) of CSPDCL Subodh Singh on Thursday.

“The CSPDCL first increased the power tariff by 22 percent and now it is putting additional financial burden on the consumers by compelling them to install electronic meters,” Dhariwal said.

He informed that the majority of the electronic meters provided by the power company in the past were defective as both domestic and commercial consumers had found sudden rise in their bills despite of less power consumption. “In the past, the CSPDCL was providing such power meters which were not certified by the government approved laboratory. This resulted in increase in the power bills ranging from Rs 1500-2500 as against the earlier bills ranging from Rs 300-500,” he said.

“The government should first replace the defective power meters and give relief to the common man,” he said.

“Already the government has increased water tax by 350 percent and now it is not only imposing high power tariff but also wants the consumers to use defective power meters. This is sheer exploitation,” he charged.