Odisha agrees to seek rollback of power tariff hike

The Odisha government announced on Monday it would file a review petition before the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) seeking a rollback in the proposed hike of power tariff for the agriculture sector.

"Keeping the interest of farmers in view, the energy department will file a review petition with the OERC to roll back the hike pertaining to the agriculture sector. The OERC will be requested to adjust it through cross subsidy in the tariff order," Energy Minister Pranab Prakash Das said in a statement.

The announcement also facilitated smooth functioning of the assembly, which has been witnessing uproar since the last week over the power tariff hike.

The opposition parties said they will cooperate in the proceedings of the house.

"We were mainly opposing the burden on farmers by the government. We were also opposing the hike in power tariff for people below the poverty line. As the government has partially accepted our demand, we will cooperate in the proceedings of the house," Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra told reporters.

Mishra said the Congress has demanded a complete withdrawal of the OERC decision.

Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Rabi Nayak said the government has bowed down to the demand of the opposition and there has been a change in its direction.

The proceedings of the assembly were stalled almost for a week after the OERC announced a hike in power tariff on March 23.

It announced hike in electricity tariff for domestic consumers by 20 paise per unit and by 40 paise for agriculture.

The new tariff hike was scheduled to be implemented from April 1.

Prior to the announcement, the assembly witnessed pandemonium throughout the day over the issue.

The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee held protest rallies and demonstrations on Monday at district headquarters, demanding the rollback of the hike.