AGARTALA, December 9 (TIWN): The Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) today organized agitation against the power tariff hike in front of all power houses across the state. The one hour long agitation of Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) today started from 11:30 and moved across places like Banamalipur Power House, Indranagar 79 tilla, Natunagar, Durgachowmuhni, TRTC, Bordowali, Jogendranagar, Amtali, Khoyerpur and other parts.

Talking to TIWN today TPCC Working President Ashish Saha said that the TSECL failed to collect due bills from the government offices and also failed to prevent the stealing of electricity. Criticizing the state govt. Mr. Saha said that till today the state govt. has made 25% of power available for a section of Left front consumers without any disconnection. And this is not acceptable as this lead the other consumers to suffer. Mr. Saha also stated that according to the Electricity Regulatory Act there is no provision for subsidy of power, but the Power Minister said that 40% powers have been made subsidized. Whereas on the other the TSECL CMD himself said that Rs. 80 crore is still pending with the power department. And this leads the central govt. to increase the power tariff. Therefore this is entirely a false fabricated issue that the state govt. is carrying to the common people of the state, said Ashish Saha.

TPCC Working President Ashish Saha also said that looting the central’s fund and making the people of the state financial weak the state govt. has been increasing the tax on them. Therefore this is totally an injustice to the people of the state.

Earlier, Power Minister Manik Dey said at the civil secretariat that the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) has submitted a tariff petition to the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) suggesting a power tariff hike of 86 percent. Asked about possible hike, the minister, however, said that the corporation accounts all its liabilities in the tariff proposal but concerned regulatory commission has to take into account the profits and retired staff strength among other things which make the actual tariff hike considerably low. Electricity Regulatory Commissions in all states are bound to increase power tariff after regular intervals according to the regulation of the Central Electricity Act, 2003.

Power Minister Dey said that the TSECL has been suffering from serious fund crunch for last two – three consecutive financial years, especially since the central government abruptly raised gas prices.

Tripura is likely to have a serious hike in power tariff soon. The process for coming power tariff hike has been started after proper settlement of all claims and objectives that came in the process. TSECL incurred a net loss of Rs. 95 crores 79 lakhs in 2010-2011. The loss increased to Rs. 120 crore 32 lakh in 2012-2013. According to the latest statistics, loss in 2012-2013 might exceed loss count for the previous financial year, said Minister Manik Dey.

However, as a part of the agitation programme, earlier a meeting of Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee SC Department led by its chairman – Prakash Das was held at Congress Bhawan in Agartala.