BJP prefers to keep mum on Torrent`s proposed tariff hike

Even as the BJP has started its nation-wide campaign against price-rise, the saffron brigade has maintained a silence when it comes to protesting the proposed tariff hike by Torrent Power in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Surat, affecting nearly 20 lakh consumers.

As Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) started hearing on the petition, as many 41 individuals as well as trade and industry bodies and political parties have opposed the company’s move to revise tariff. While Congress and CPM have opposed the proposal, BJP has kept mum.

If GERC allows the application, around 20 lakh consumers in the three cities will have to shell out Rs 550 crore to Rs 1600 crore over the next three years.

Congress as well as its affiliate body along with CPM have expressed their displeasure.

Ashok Panjabi, vice-president, Gujarat Congress, said, "As the people of the state are already under tremendous pressure of ever increasing inflation, such a huge burden should not be permitted." Panjabi is also the president of Congress party’s Human Rights Committee, which has filed an application with the GERC.

He pointed out that the company has shown an increase of 15-16 % in its administrative expenditure. “The company should try and address issues like power theft instead of proposing a tariff hike,” he said.

The BJP on the other hand defended the issue by saying that the convener of party’s Economic Cell is abroad and that the party was totally unaware of the issue.