Lagatar24 Desk
Patna, March 31: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday announced in the assembly that his government will not hike electricity rates and would instead provide a subsidy of Rs 13,114 crores.
“Our cabinet has decided that we will not allow the electricity tariff to increase for the people of Bihar and the tariffs will remain the same as it was last year. For that, we have increased the subsidy from Rs 8,895 crores to Rs 13,114 crores,” he said.
Moreover, Nitish Kumar said that despite Bihar being a “gareeb rajya,” the Central government was still imposing higher electricity costs on the state.
“Maharashtra gets electricity at Rs 4.32 per unit, despite being the richest state, while Bihar is getting it ar Rs 5.82 per unit. Last year we use to get it for Rs 5.82 per unit but it’s been hiked to Rs 5.82 per unit”, said Nitish Kumar.
“The regulatory body decides the rate but the final ball is in our courts, we are in the category of poor states, Madhya Pradesh gets electricity for Rs 3.49 per unit. The Center should think about ‘gareeb rajya’, we get costly electricity. We have been demanding one nation one tariff for long.” added the CM further.
An increase of 24.1% had already been mandated by the Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the new rates were to take effect on April 1. But, following a government statement, customers are no longer required to shoulder an additional burden.
After Nitish Kumar’s statement, Tejashwi Yadav, the deputy chief minister, hailed the government’s choice and referred to it as one made in the interests of the general people and farmers.
