Arvind Kejriwal writes letter to states governed by BJP on power tariffs

New Delhi, Oct 9 (KNN) A letter has been written by the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to states governed by BJP and allied parties over proposed amendment to Electricity Act 2003.

He believes that this would lead to a huge increase in power tariffs.

Kejriwal exhorted the chief ministers of these states to personally meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and apprise him of dangers of this amendment.

The national convener of the AAP had written a similar letter to CMs of 11 states being ruled by the non-BJP and non-NDA parties.

Change will adversely affect the common people, Kejriwal claimed and the amendment would put an end to cross-subsidy and make electricity unaffordable for the poor as well as the middle class.

Cross-subsidy is used to give cheap/free power to farmers and charge industries and commercial establishments more, he said.

“This amendment is anti-federal and would lead to render states powerless in the field of electricity. State governments won’t be able to take any decision in the matters of electricity once the amendment is passed,” Kejriwal wrote.

“This amendment would make power tariffs same for farmers, industries, commercial, residential and agricultural customers. This will break the back of the farmers and residential customers.”

The Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2014, was first introduced in Lok Sabha in December 2014.

The recommendations made by the states were incorporated in the bill and proposed amendments were sent in September.