Agartala, November 26 (TIWN): The Tripura Pragatishil Gramin Congress (TPGC) today organized protest rally demanding immediate withdrawal of the recent power tariff hike. “TSECL hikes power tariff every year by showing different excuses, said the President of the Tripura Pragatishil Gramin Congress Shubal Bhowmik.

While speaking to TIWN, President of the Tripura Pragatishil Gramin Congress Shubal Bhowmik told that the TSECL authority failed to collect due bills from the government offices and also failed to prevent the stealing of electricity, which is a big problem and the concerned authorities are not able to stop this problem if the stealing of electricity continue it will became a very big issue, But the TSECL hikes power tariff in every year instead of taking proper action against wastage of power and illegal hook line users in the state. To protest against this, the party will arrange a protest rally demanding 50% cut in the increase of power bill, stop the power tariff hike and simplification of power bill.

He further said that, if the TSECL did not withdraw the recent power tariff hike. We are going to gherao every electricity offices in the state. It is to be mentioned here that on last November 22 Chairman of Tripura Electricity Regulatory Commission N. Chakraborty announced that in exercise of power vested under Section 62(1)(a) and Section 64 (3)(a) of Electricity Act, 2003 and Tariff Regulation 2004, the commission, after thorough examination of Tariff Petition and other records, public opinion and considering the interest of Consumers as well as Licensee (TSECL), passes the Tariff order for the FY 2014¬15 by increasing 14.76% (Average per Unit) w. r. t. existing tariff.

But Govt. of Tripura has committed to provide Rs. 40.00 Cr. Subsidy to specific consumers at different rates and accordingly Average Tariff has come to 5.69% rise. Thus, Before Subsidy Average Tariff is Rs. 6.50/kwh and after subsidy average tariff is Rs. 5.99/kwh. Further TSCEL had also given clarification regarding increase in power tariff such as increase of Natural Gas Price in National/International level, increase of Power Purchase Cost from outside Central Sector Project and increase of Operational and Maintenance.