Punjab power Minister rules out hike in power tariff

The Punjab government today ruled out any hike in power tariff in the state.
In a statement here, Punjab Irrigation and Power Minister Rana Gurjit Singh said that there was no question of going back on the Congress' poll promise of providing affordable power.
"We will take steps to provide power at affordable rates to domestic as well as commercial consumers, as promised in the Congress manifesto," he said.
The manifesto clearly states that the Congress government will ensure 24X7 power supply at affordable tariff to all sectors of the state's economy, including domestic consumers, trade, business and industry, he said.

Electricity tariff for industry will be frozen for five years, he added.
The minister asserted that the poll promises in the manifesto were sacrosanct and would not be violated at any cost.
The government is currently considering the industry's demand for power at Rs 5 per unit, Singh said adding that "we are committed to providing affordable power to industry and other sections of the state, besides continuing with free power to farmers.