In view of the rising prices, the Tamil Nadu government should immediately cancel the power tariff hike for commercial and industrial establishments in order to protect the interest of the poor and downtrodden and the business and industrial establishments, OPS said.
O Panneerselvam has urged the Tamil Nadu government to immediately cancel the hike in electricity tariff for commercial and industrial establishments.
In a statement, former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said, Public sector undertakings are those which aim to protect the public interest, promote social welfare and make the services available to the people at a reasonable price, rather than profit, so that the economy of a country can move on the right track.
Based on this objective, The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited TANGEDCO was formed to provide uninterrupted supply of electricity to the people of Tamil Nadu. The DMK government is taking steps to destroy this very purpose.
After coming to power, the DMK has been indulging in harassment of the people ever since it came to power, which had made several promises such as "once a monthly power consumption survey", "free electricity up to 300 units for handloom weavers", "free electricity up to 1000 units per powerloom", etc.
Nine months ago, the DMK government, which had raised electricity tariffs for homes, businesses and industries manifold, was harassing the people. At present, the government has increased the electricity tariff for commercial and industrial establishments from 13 paise to 21 paise per unit to add fuel to the burning fire.
Two years after the DMK government assumed office, it is ironic that the government's press release has hinted that the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government and the Central government were responsible for the hike in power tariff.
Nine months ago, despite a manifold increase in electricity tariff, quality electricity was not supplied uninterruptedly. At a time when there have been sporadic power cuts due to the delay in transportation of coal from the Chandrapila mine in Odisha, the hike in electricity tariff for commercial use is highly condemnable.
Due to the increase in electricity tariff for commercial use, the prices of goods that people use on a daily basis may go up. This will reduce the purchasing power of the people and adversely affect the economy of the country. An increase in electricity tariff is like a chain chain.
At a time when people are reeling under the rising prices like poison, at a time when the country's inflation is on the rise, people have been affected by property tax hike, GST hike, gas price hike, hike in milk prices, electricity tariff hike, etc.
Under these circumstances, it is unfair that the DMK government has increased the electricity tariff for commercial and industrial establishments like a nail in a boil. The DMK government is acting as a government that promises the people to "do what we say" and then does what it doesn't say.
The DMK government is indulging in anti-people activities by claiming to be a Dravidian model of government. This act of the DMK government is highly condemnable.
On behalf of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, I urge the Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, to immediately cancel the power tariff hike for commercial and industrial establishments in view of the price rise and to protect the interest of the poor and the downtrodden, as well as the interests of commercial and industrial establishments.