Shivraj Singh Chouhan government today decided to provide relief to domestic power consumers by abrogating energy development cess and by rationalising electricity duty. The electricity duty is under debate for more than a decade.
“Our government has decided to do away with the cess and rationalise the electricity duty by bringing it down from 23 per cent to 15 per cent under various categories. This would provide a relief of Rs 120 crore to domestic consumers," said Narottam Mishra, government spokesperson and cabinet colleague of Chouhan.
The provisions of levying electricity duty and cess under the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Duty Act 1949 entitles power-distribution companies to levy electricity duty and cess on various categories of consumers.There will be nine slabs under 14 category of consumers.
Various industries and consumers have protested against it at various forums. In another decision, the state government has also committed to offer school uniforms to all students up to eighth standard, free of cost. So far only girl students have this facility. “Each student up to eight standard would be provided Rs 400 for purchase of school uniforms," Mishra added.