Power tariff hike a compulsion; CM Omar

SRINAGAR, August 24 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the government had never promised that power tariff would not increase, saying 200 units of free electricity would be implemented through solar scheme. He maintained that the tariff revision had no connection with the scheme.

Speaking to reporters, CM Omar said the government had increased electricity rates by 6.83 per cent after four years, while pointing out that rates had previously been increased by more than 14 per cent during earlier governments and by around 15 per cent four years ago.

“We increased the rates by bare minimum. We are not celebrating the increase in electricity rates. It was a compulsion for us,” he said, adding that the need for such measures would reduce as losses in the power sector decline.

He also said the reshuffle would be done whenever required, but clarified that he had only ruled out the possibility of a reshuffle before August 15.