Chennai: O. Panneerselvam said, “This increase in electricity rates will not only lead to a significant increase in the price of all goods, but will also greatly affect the poor and poor people living on rent. Private educational institutions, hospitals, and private hostels will also impose this additional fee on people.”
He issued a statement in this regard: “Electricity is the lifeblood of the human race and the backbone of the economy. It is not an exaggeration to say that electricity is the root cause of the development of industries, the operation of factories, the livelihood of workers, the development of agricultural industries, and the prosperity of the service sector.
In terms of electricity, the party DMK made many promises during the elections like electricity consumption measurement once a month, free electricity up to 300 units for handloom weavers, free electricity up to 1000 units for power looms. The DMK, which came to power with these fake promises, has not only failed to fulfill all these promises, but has now imposed an additional burden on the people which they cannot bear only by increasing the electricity tariff. This anti-people attitude of the DMK government seems to be feeding a sore throat.
When it was announced last July that it was proposed to increase the electricity tariff, I expressed strong condemnation on behalf of the AIADMK and insisted that this decision should be abandoned. Condemnation was also expressed from various quarters. Disregarding the opinions of political party leaders, public social activists etc., the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission has announced that the increase in electricity tariff will be effective from today and those who do not want 100 units of free electricity can give it up. Apart from this, electricity tariffs have been allowed to increase by six per cent per annum till 2026. On behalf of the AIADMK, I strongly condemn this anti-people trend of the DMK government.
In the DMK’s election manifesto, it was mentioned that once a month electricity consumption calculation system was introduced, and through it, those who use less than 1,000 units of electricity will get benefit of up to 6,000 rupees per year. A year after coming to power, this demand has not been fulfilled. On the contrary, with this rate hike, those who consume less than 1,000 units of electricity are forced to pay an additional 10,000 rupees per year.
Also, while the user using more than 500 units of electricity was charged Rs 6.60 per unit, now the user using electricity from 500 to 600 units will be charged at the rate of eight rupees per unit, the user using electricity from 601 to 800 units will be charged at the rate of Rs 9 per unit, and from 801 to 1000 units will be charged Rs. It has been announced that electricity charges will be charged at the rate of Rs 10 per unit for users using electricity up to 1000 units and at the rate of Rs 11 per unit for those using more than 1000 units. That is, for every 100 units, 200 units, electricity charges are increased.
Apart from the first 200 units of free electricity, the same increase in electricity tariff has been announced for those involved in the handloom industry. Due to this increase in electricity tariff, all the consumers of more than 100 units of electricity have been severely affected. Similarly, power charges for industries, commercial establishments, hospitals and private educational institutions have also been significantly increased.
In this age where no activity can be done without electricity, this increase in electricity tariff will not only lead to a significant rise in the price of all commodities, but will also hit the poor and poor people living in rented accommodation. Private educational institutes, hospitals, private hotels also charge this extra fee on people. At this time when people are already waking up due to the rise in prices, at this time when the inflation of the country is on the rise, in this situation where people are suffering due to property tax hike, GST tax hike, gas price hike, milk product price hike etc., it is unreasonable to increase the electricity bill like pouring oil on a burning fire. Act against people. The DMK government is acting in the manner of ‘one thing to say, one thing to do’. Perhaps this is the ‘Dravidian model’.
On behalf of the AIADMK, I urge the Chief Minister to take immediate action to withdraw the increase in electricity tariff considering the welfare of the poor and needy people”.