Panjim: The common citizens are reeling under the burden of inflation and rising prices. The prices of cooking gas has been recently increased by Rs 50. In this scenario, Herald Media asked people, “What is your opinion about proposed 5.95% hike in electricity tariff?”
Sabke saath sab ka vikas, sounds like a nice slogan, but the reality is that the common people and especially the middle class has been completely squeezed. There is hike is gas prices, fuel prices, hike in water and electricity tariffs, hike in food prices. This is Sabke saath sab ka vikas. We close our eyes and say there is inflation. Is this inflation? They are raising the prices because we keep quiet and we do not condemn it. Why has the electricity tariff going to be hiked by 5.95%?
Mariano Ferrao, Social Activist
I strongly object to this almost 6% hike in electricity tariffs. Charges may increase as time goes by, but what are the justifications given we don’t understand? The basic power supply which goes to the villages, there is no improvement in that. Even the maintenance is not done. In Velim constituency, the villagers had gone the department office near Tollencatto, in Velim. The youth complained that the power supply had gone below 170 watts. There is so much of power fluctuation and power interruptions. Every day there is power failure at least twice a day. So the basic power supply has to improve before the hike.
Anthony D’Silva, Social Activist
The proposal of the power department to increase the existing consumer power tariff by 5.95%, which is almost 6% is nothing but a disaster for the common man. This government does not seem to be bothered about the middle class, lower middle class and the lower class. This government not only in Goa but all over India is for the rich. Such a hike will only such the middle class and dash the lower middle class. If these type of things continue, the only hope is that in 2027 the people of Goa decide to vote not emotionally but vote rationally seeing that we have been taken for a ride.
Trajano D’Silva, Political Commentator