Power tariff hike from Feb. 1

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JAN. 27. The State Government today decided to implement the 17 per cent increase in power tariff, as recommended by the Karnataka Energy Regulatory Commission (KERC), in the case of all consumers barring small and medium farmers, from February 1.

The Government has decided to give a year's ``temporary exemption'' to irrigation pump sets on account of which it will incur a loss of about Rs. 140 crores.

The tariff hike proposal was made by the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) and recommended by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission. The recommendation was made last month, but, due to pressure from the Opposition parties, the Government had deferred the implementation.

The decision to implement the power tariff hike was taken today at the meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Power Tariff.

The Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. D.B.Chandre Gowda, told presspersons that the Cabinet Sub-Committee had considered the suggestions made by Opposition leaders at the all- party meeting convened by the Chief Minister, Mr. S.M.Krishna, on Thursday, and decided to enforce the tariff hike from February 1.

He said the Government had decided to suspend the hike in the case of IP sets by a year but it would not be applicable to farmers who come under the ``creamy layer''. Efforts would soon be made to identify those coming under such a category, and the norms for identifying such farmers were: those who owned three or more IP sets, mobile phone, four- wheelers (except tractors), or were IT assessees.

He said the KERC had suggested that the concessions could be extended to farmers who owned two pumpsets and a telephone, but the Government had changed the norms to identify those coming under the ``creamy layer''.

Mr. Gowda said the Government had decided to constitute district and taluk-level committees under deputy commissioners to check the misuse of energy and unauthorised connections.

He said the beneficiaries under the Bhagyajyothi Scheme would be allowed free power supply up to 18 units and they would be charged regular rates above that limit.

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Section  : Southern States
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