Srinagar, Aug 23 (KNS) : The Jammu Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) has strongly criticized the recent power tariff hike in Jammu and Kashmir, terming it a severe blow to ordinary families and small businesses already reeling under inflation and economic distress.
State Secretary of AIP and former President of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad, said that electricity is a basic necessity, not a luxury, and the hike, effective from September 1, would directly impact household budgets, children's education, and the survival of small shopkeepers, artisans, and traders .
"The Government of the day must understand the ground reality. In a region where winters are harsh and livelihoods are fragile, hiking power tariffs without improving supply and reliability is unjustified," Ahmad said in a statement .
It is pertinent to mention that the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) has approved an average tariff increase of 6.
Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel83 percent for the Union Territory, with the government providing a subsidy of Rs 2,420.78 crore to prevent a "tariff shock" that could have been as high as 40 percent .
While the revised tariff for metered domestic consumers has been fixed at Rs 2.45 per unit for consumption up to 200 units, critics point out that this falls short of the National Conference government's promise of 200 units of free electricity .
Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad urged the administration to immediately roll back the unjustified hike and review the tariff structure keeping the common man in mind. He also called for providing special concessions to small businesses and commercial establishments, describing them as the backbone of the local economy .
"The Jammu Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party stands firmly with the people on this issue. The government must take immediate steps wherever possible to ease this burden and support the common man," Ahmad demanded . (KNS)