CHANDIGARH: Former Haryana chief minister and the leader of opposition in the state assembly Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday alleged that the BJP-JJP government was imposing a heavy burden on electricity consumers by procuring power from external sources at high rates, without adhering to long-term agreements.
Hooda said that the government has delivered another blow to those suffering from inflation and said the government was putting an undue burden on the public to benefit the private power companies.
“On one hand, the Congress government in Rajasthan is giving relief to the people from inflation by giving gas cylinders for Rs 500, the government in Haryana is putting an additional burden on the middle class by putting an additional burden of 52 paise per unit,” Hooda said.
He said a typical household spending up to 600 units will now have to pay an extra Rs 300 per month.
The general public is being burdened to benefit private companies because Haryana was to get electricity for 25 years at the rate of 2.94 paise per unit under the power purchase agreement signed with the Adani Group during the Congress tenure.
“But in the last summer season, the company refused to provide electricity. Instead of taking legal action against the private company, the government bought expensive power from outside at the rate of Rs 10-11,” he added.
Hooda while elaborating upon a number of power plants being set up in the state during his tenure accused the BJP-JJP government of bringing power discoms and the power department under the liability of Rs 40,000 crore on the account of outstanding towards the government.
He also claimed as the Congress government managed to keep the electricity tariff under control despite giving a relief of Rs 1,600 crore of electricity bill waiver to rural folks.
Hooda also expressed his displeasure over the non-purchase of wheat in the mandis, after visiting the mandis of the state and talking to farmers, labourers and traders.
He said everyone was worried due to the lack of purchase and lifting.
“Due to this indecisive attitude of the government, the farmers could not even get the MSP of mustard. Farmers had to sell their crops at a rate of Rs 500-1000 per quintal below the MSP. Now this is the condition of wheat,” he added.
In many places, the work of procurement in mandis and the 'Meri Fasal, Mera Byora' portal have stopped.
“In every crop season, the portal stops working at a time of need. Our demand is to increase the compensation between Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 for damaged crops.
Hooda ruled out the possibility of an alliance with either INLD at any point in time and reiterated that he had never talked of alliance with JJP as claimed by Digivijay Chautala.
Referring to organisation structure, Hooda said that lists were lying with the party high command and AICC would take the call any day for now.
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