Other States - Madhya Pradesh   

M.P. Government's move to waive power bills of ryots challenged

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHOPAL OCT. 11. The Madhya Pradesh High Court has admitted a public interest litigation petition on the Government's recent decision to waive electricity bills of farmers using irrigation pumps up to 5 HP and the single-point consumers belonging to the weaker sections for the period January 1, 2001, till December 31, 2003. This was described as a "pre-election stunt'' by the BJP.

The petition by the Nagrik Upbhokta Margdarshak Manch said that it is mandatory for the State Government under the Central Electricity Act 2003 to give subsidy in advance to the State Electricity Board before offering doles to the consumers.

A Division Bench of the High Court, comprising the Chief Justice, Kumar Rajaratnam, and Justice Deepak Mishra, last Wednesday responded to the PIL petition by asking why it should not stay the Cabinet decision to waive the electricity bills. It has directed the Government and the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board to submit a reply before October 22 — the next date of hearing.

The petition questions the Government's capacity to bear the financial burden of the proposed subsidy to the State Electricity Board by pointing out that the Government had earlier gone on record asserting that it was not in a position to buy additional electricity to tide over the power crisis.

It is learnt that the officials, who have been entrusted with the responsibility of preparing a reply to the High Court notice are taking the plea that the Government should be allowed to go ahead with its "formula'' for payment of subsidy to the State Electricity Board over a two-year period since it has already suspended the enforcement of the Central Electricity Act till December this year. It is mandatory for the State Government under the Central Electricity Act 2003 to ensure advance payment of subsidy to the Electricity Board.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• M.P. Government's move to waive power bills of ryots challenged

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu