Haryana CM slashes power rates, oppn challenges his decision

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Tuesday announced a sharp reduction in electricity tariff, a decision ahead of the Lok Sabha election year that provoked a noisy exchange in the state assembly.

"I am the chief minister of the state. I know what I can do, Khattar replied curtly to Leader of Opposition Abhay Singh Chautala later in the day when he challenged the CM's authority to fix power rates.

Electricity will cost Rs 2.50 per unit, down from Rs 4 for households with a monthly consumption of up to 200 units.

For poorer families, who consume up to 50 units per month, the rate would be Rs 2 per unit, Khattar announced in the Haryana Assembly.

 

Khattar called the subsidies on power rates a historic decision that would benefit 41.53 lakh domestic consumers.

He said that the reduced tariff would ensure a saving of Rs 437 per month to consumers.

The chief minister said he has now fulfilled his promise to reduce power tariffs in the state.

He also announced free electricity connections to 'dhanis' (hamlets) situated within one kilometre of the 'lal dora' village limits.

"The aim of the state government is to ensure that each household in the state has an electricity connection," he added.

Later, during Zero Hour, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Singh Chautala said it was the job of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) to fix power tariffs, and not that of the chief minister.

Are you the chairman of the HERC," Chautala asked, reminding him that he had in the past told the INLD that only the regulatory authority could cut tariffs.

"I am the chief minister of the state, Khattar then told him.

Mr Leader of Opposition, I know very well what I can do and what I cannot," he said.

Khattar said he knew it was the job of the HERC to fix power tariff.

"But if we want to give subsidy to the people out of the state exchequer, then we have the right do so. The rates which we have reduced today are not decided by HERC, he said.

Earlier, the chief minister said the state government has signed an agreement with the Indian Oil Corporation for the setting up an ethanol plant at Bohli village in Panipat with a capacity of 100 kilolitres per day.

The move is meant to check air pollution as farmers in the area can sell their agriculture residue to the plant.