KJ George, Energy Minister of Karnataka (Image/ANI)
The Congress government in Karnataka has increased electricity rates by Rs 2.89 per unit from June.
Amid politicking over Karnataka government’s move to hike power tariffs, state Energy Minister K J George on Wednesday said subsidy would be provided to consumers if their average power consumption plus 10 per cent is less than 200 units.
“Anything above that has to be paid for. Consumers who use more than the allotted units have to pay for the additional units used. According to the news agency, George said, ‘It will include 9 percent tax. Year,
The Congress government in Karnataka has increased electricity rates by Rs 2.89 per unit since June. If more than 200 units fall in the slab, the people of the state will have to pay the increased tariff.
The move was greeted with protests from the opposition BJPAs during the recently held assembly elections, the Congress party had promised to provide 200 units of free electricity under the ‘Griha Jyoti’ scheme.
Although the Congress government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is all set to implement the ‘Griha Jyoti’ scheme, fresh tariffs will be applicable for the implementation of the scheme.
Condemning the hike, the BJP has said that the Congress government has cheated the people of Karnataka by increasing the electricity rates.
The saffron party held protests in Bengaluru and other districts of Karnataka against the proposed power tariff hike, alleging that the Congress government has placed several conditions on the five pre-poll guarantees, making it difficult for residents to avail the benefits.
The BJP said, “It is like giving free electricity on the one hand and taking it away on the other.”
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (KSSIA) has warned of a strike against the hike in power tariffs. KSSIA said that under the new tariff it would be forced to close shop.
,With inputs from IANS,