PANJIM: A day after Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar rolled back the hike in power tariff for small domestic consumers, BJP Goa conceded that the hike would have affected a large number of consumers. The party also came for some sharp criticism over differences between ministers wherein Vishwajit Rane publicly threatened to come onto the streets opposing the hike.
“He (Rane) expressed his views and the minister immediately acted on it. I think we should give him (Madkaikar) the credit for taking an immediate action,” party spokesperson Dattaprasad Naik told reporters, replying to queries about differences between the two ministers over the tariff hike.
Naik, accompanied by Premanand Mahambare, also agreed that the hike of 6.5 percent against the current 4.9 percent would have taxed the consumers. “These were genuine concerns (raised by different groups) and ordinary people were affected. Therefore, the minister acted on it without delay (on the withdrawal of the tariff hike),” Naik added.
The party congratulated the Power Minister for getting an additional power allocation of 100 MW for the State at the rate of Rs 2.60 per unit and another 50 MW of solar power that would be received from the Solar Corporation of India at the cost of Rs 3.25 per unit.
As per the decision, the tariff hike stands withdrawn for domestic users consuming up to 200 units per month. Further, domestic consumers using more than 200 units will face a nominal hike of 0.25 paise per unit.
The BJP also took a dig at ex-power minister Digambar Kamat for criticising the hike. “A person who is on anticipatory bail should not tell us what is good for Goa. All scams in different sectors were during his tenure. Goa is suffering because of him,” Naik said, without naming Kamat.
Meanwhile, Goa BJP will celebrate the party’s foundation day on April 6 by hoisting 10,000 party flags in different places.
