No further power tariff hike during my tenure: CM Omar

Tangmarg : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday assured people that the government would not increase electricity tariffs any further, while promising to fulfil all commitments made to the people within the next three-and-a-half years.

Addressing a gathering in Tangmarg, Omar Abdullah, according to the news agency said the present government had imposed only a limited burden on consumers through the recent tariff revision and maintained that previous governments had also increased electricity rates.

“When these people were in power, when they had to increase the electricity rates, it increased by 13-15 per cent four years ago,” he said.

Referring to the previous PDP-BJP government, he said, “When Mehbooba Mufti Sahiba was the Chief Minister, the electricity rates increased by 13.5 to 14 per cent.”

Questioning the criticism of the latest tariff revision, Omar said, “Why did you remain silent at that time? At that time, didn’t you feel that injustice was being done to the people?”

He said his government had tried to keep the additional burden on consumers to a minimum. “I assure you, my complete effort will be that, God willing, during this government, after this, we will not increase the electricity rates any further. No more than this,” he said.

Omar said the government would now focus on improving basic public services and infrastructure, including drinking water supply, schools, healthcare, roads and horticulture infrastructure.

“The rest of the work is to provide clean drinking water to people, to repair schools for children, to send doctors to hospitals, to improve the roads, to make a fruit market and to develop the area,” he said.

The Chief Minister also reiterated his government’s commitment to completing all promises made to the people during its remaining term. “All the promises we have made to people, God willing, in the next three and a half years, we will fulfil all those promises and present ourselves to you,” Omar said.—(KNO)