Power restored in quick time after nor’wester damage: Minister Biswas
The minister said that the WBSEDCL has already started a control room with numbers 89007 93503/4 and will work 24x7.
The All Bengal Electricity Consumers’ Association (ABECA) today took out a protest rally from Subodh Mallick Square to Rani Rashmoni Avenue to raise the demand of reducing electricity tariff.
Electricity consumers from various districts of West Bengal assembled to join the rally and appealed to power minister Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay to fulfil their pending demands. ABECA demanded a slash in electricity tariff by 50 per cent. Talking about their demand for reduction in tariff, Mr Pradyut Choudhury, general secretary of ABECA said, “ We have been fighting for the past four years to stop the increase in electricity tariff.”
The protesters also pointed out that areas under the WBSEDCL receive a subsidy of 300 units from the state government unlike in CESC areas, where irrespective of their financial background, consumers have to pay high charges for electricity.
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In the recent past, Janglemahal consumers received hefty electricity bills during the years 2008-2010. The protest demanded a waiver of the arrear amounts. Robin Dutta, a member of the zilla committee stated, “ We are fighting for the consumers of Jungle mahal who are not in a position to pay the hefty bill amount.”
Sarala Mahato, a resident of Jhargram and a protester said: “We are two people at home and our house has two lights and one fan. How will we bear a bill of such an amount?”
ABECA also demanded free of-cost power supply to agricultural consumers, considering the high charges. The lowest rate per unit for the agricultural sector is Rs.4.75 in day time and Rs.7.48 per unit during peak hours.
ABECA also demanded the withdrawal of the Electricity (Amendment) Act 2018.
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