BJP to submit review petition against power tariff hike in UP

Blaming Samajwadi Party government's "wrong policies" for increase in power tariff in Uttar Pradesh, BJP today said it will move the UP State Electricity Regulatory Commission against the hike.
"We will submit a review petition against the hike in power tariffs in UP State Electricity Regulatory Commission. If we do not get any relief there, we will move the Central Regulatory Commission. And if we do not get justice there also, the party will move the high court. We will ensure implementation of old power tariff in the state," state BJP president Laxmikant Bajpai said.
Bajpai was here to take part in the nationwide 'Swachh Bharat' cleanliness drive launched today.

"The Uttar Pradesh government is not serious about the electricity problem in the state as the Union Power Minister had called up the state Chief Minister to talk about the issue, but he did not speak to him. Later, on the intervention of the Governor, the Chief Minister spoke to the Centre," Bajpai alleged.
"The state government should have increased power tariffs in such areas where electricity is supplied for 24 hours like Rampur, Etawa and Mainpuri and not in the entire state where power is supplied for only eight to ten hours.
"Why should people in villages where there is no electricity pay such a heavy tariff," he said.

"The state government has played an ugly joke on the poor farmers by increasing the power tariff," he said.
"Power plants in Delhi and Haryana are ready to provide electricity to Uttar Pradesh at cheaper rates, but the state government is buying power at higher rates from private companies because it is getting commission from them," he alleged.