Gujarat can provide free power if state-owned electricity units operate at full capacity: AAP MLA
Citing the imprisonment of people for stealing electricity, Umesh Makwana said, “I am saddened to say that no steps are taken against industrialists who steal in crores.
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Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Umesh Makwana. (Photo source: FB/ Umesh Makwana)Hitting out at the BJP government in Gujarat for buying expensive power from private players such as Adani Group, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Umesh Makwana told the state legislature Monday that the government can provide up to 300 units of free electricity as in Delhi and Punjab if the state-owned power plants operate at maximum capacity.
“Due to the expensive electricity tariff in Gujarat, the poor and the middle-class are finding it more and more difficult to pay their electricity bills… The government is buying electricity at high rates from private firms like the Adanis and the cost is passed on to the people of Gujarat. There is a very big electricity scam,” said Makwana.
After a BJP MLA Praveen Mali from Deesa objected to the AAP MLA’s comments, stand-in Speaker Ramanlal Vora removed the word “scam” from the records of the legislature.
“If the state-owned electricity generating units are encouraged, and if they are allowed to operate at the maximum capacity, then we can provide cheap electricity to the people of the state. If less corruption happens in the energy department, and if steps are taken against it, then like Delhi and Punjab, we can provide 300 units of electricity free to each family,” the AAP MLA added.
On March 26, The Indian Express reported that the Gujarat government bought electricity worth Rs 20,500 crore from private players in 2022. Of the total cost, 74 per cent were for paying Adani, Tata and Essar Groups. The cost of electricity sold by these three entities rose by 85 per cent, 75 per cent and 225 per cent rise respectively in 2022.
During his speech, Makwana asked the government to enter into new power purchase agreements with smaller private generators of renewable energy to help bring down the cost of electricity in the state. The Indian Express report also mentioned that the state government bought solar power from 38 entities in 2022 at a rate of Rs 15 per unit.
Citing imprisonment of people for stealing electricity, Makwana said, “I am saddened to say that no steps are taken against industrialists who steal in crores. On the other hand, electricity bills worth crores belonging to these industrialists are written off.
In his reply to the budgetary demands, state energy minister Kanubhai Desai, in reference to the AAP MLA’s comments, said, “He spoke about Punjab and Delhi. I want to only say that if the farmers in Gujarat use 1,000 units of electricity, then for him 900 units are free and he has to pay only for 100 units. That is the reason why all the farmers of Gujarat are with the BJP.”
The minister said that Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation is planning to set up two power plants in Odisha that will bring more stability to the electricity supply. The Gujarat government has been claiming that it has not been increasing the electricity tariff in the state for the past several years.
But as it continues to buy expensive power, the government has been steadily increasing the fuel surcharge that is imposed on every unit of electricity consumed in the state.
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