The government would ensure uniform power tariff in Mumbai, said deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who also heads the energy department, in the state Assembly in Nagpur on Thursday. The state should be power-cut free by December 2012, said Pawar while responding to a debate on the power scenario in the state.
The deputy chief minister admitted that there were four different power tariffs in Mumbai and there was a need to have uniform tariff. The government is planning to formulate a law that Tata Power should not sell its power, generated in the state, outside the state at a premium. “Tata should supply the power to Mumbai and its neighbouring areas. Moreover, Tata should provide power connection to low-end consumers," said Pawar.
Earlier, attacking the government, Eknath Khadse said the state was facing an unprecedented power problem and an average of 16-hour power failure in rural areas, while the government miserably failed to enhance the power requirement in the state. Shiv Sena leader Subhash Desai endorsed Khadse's contention about corruption in the state-run power sector.
Congress legislator Aslam Sheikh pointed out that consumers of Mumbai are getting power supply from three different companies at three different rates. "There should be uniform tariff," he insisted.
{{/usCountry}}Congress legislator Aslam Sheikh pointed out that consumers of Mumbai are getting power supply from three different companies at three different rates. "There should be uniform tariff," he insisted.
{{/usCountry}}Pawar said the state would take action against Mula Pravara society in Ahmednagar for not paying Rs2,000 crore due to the state power distribution company. "We will not bow under any political pressure," he said. Senior Congress leaders Balasaheb Vikhe Patil and his son Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, a state cabinet member, control the society.