Irate over Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL)’s functioning the traders’ apex body of the State — Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI) on Monday demanded that the electricity system of the State should be privatised because JBVNL cannot handle the State power system.
Addressing a Press meet, FJCCI president Kunal Azmani said that the dispute with DVC never ends and at the same time the tariff is to be fixed for the coming financial year, its rates have also been increased significantly. This is not only harmful for the industries but also for the general public, he added.
Azmani said in 2015 the DVC dues were almost over and in the last four years, the due amount was Rs 5,000 crore. “At the same time JBVNL wants to increase the tariff unexpectedly, which indicates that JBVNL will not be able to handle this. The Chamber had said these things four years ago also. Many suggestions were made by the Chamber, even after that neither the Government nor JBVNL accepted those things,” he added.
Azmani said after June 31, the State Government was going to take a decision on this, but it did not happen. In this regard, a talk was held between the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary. Industries were closed for the last three months and it too by the Government order. On the lines of other States, the Government should at least give exemption in fixed charges,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion FJCCI General Secretary Dheeraj Taneja said that companies like JUSCO and CSE owe less than five per cent of losses in transmission and distribution. In such a situation, it is important that the Government should give electricity distribution in the hands of professionals, he added.
Referring to the electricity tariff, Ajay Bhandari said that JBVNL has sent a proposal to the Commission for a new electricity tariff which has seen a threefold increase in electricity tariff since the year 2016.
“The Household electricity was Rs 1.60 to Rs 3.20 in the year 2016-17. Currently it has been increased from Rs 7 to Rs 7.50, which indicates that there is a huge difference in the electricity rates. In the proposal that has been given at the moment, the JBVNL auditors themselves have raised questions in the audit for the year 2018-19. The auditor has not described these figures as reliable,” he added.
