Animesh Debbarma, the leader of the opposition from the Tipra Motha Party, has criticized the BJP-led state government for the recent surge in electricity charges. Debbarma raised a pertinent query: “While the Delhi and Punjab governments are offering free or highly subsidized electricity, why has Tripura chosen to raise charges without any visible improvement in power services?”
Debbarma shed light on the dismal state of power services in the region, citing instances where power outages in areas like Asharambari lasted for extended periods. He expressed his disbelief at the decision to increase charges under such circumstances. Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath had previously defended the tariff hike, stating that it was a mere 7% increase.
Animesh Debbarma also took issue with the substantial fees for linking Aadhaar and PAN cards. He pointed out that the Supreme Court has clarified that Aadhaar is not obligatory, making the imposition of such charges questionable. “Charging 1000 rupees per link is unjustifiable. If a family of five is required to link, it translates to a hefty 5000 rupees. The Chief Minister’s silence on this matter is concerning. Action needs to be taken. I demand an immediate halt to this linking process and the associated charges,” Debbarma insisted.
In response, Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath shifted the blame onto the previous Left Front government, attributing a 134% rise in electricity bills to their tenure. He maintained that the BJP-led government had only introduced a modest 7% increase in bills.
