Haryana: CM Manohar Lal angry with heavy fine for power theft, said- decision against farmers, circular withdrawn

Following the recommendation of the HERC (Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission), Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal has expressed strong displeasure over the increase in rates by Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam on farmers for stealing electricity by up to 60 times. Describing this decision as against the farmers, the Chief Minister said that the government is not bound to follow the orders of HERC. Therefore, the Haryana Government has withdrawn the circular of increased rates issued by UHBVN. Apart from this, Antyodaya Energy Security Scheme has been launched for the poor people.

In the press conference organized at Haryana Niwas on Sunday, Chief Minister Manohar Lal said that due to this circular issued by the corporation, huge fines were being imposed on the farmers. In this circular, the amount of fine was made up to Rs.6 lakh whereas earlier, if any default was found on a farmer, then he was fined from Rs.2000 to Rs.20000. As soon as the government came to know about this circular, the Haryana government decided that in the interest of the farmers, we will not allow this circular to be implemented.

The Chief Minister said that the Haryana government is giving subsidy amounting to more than Rs.6000 crore to the electricity companies every year for the feeders of the agriculture sector. The government is taking 10 paise per unit tubewell electricity bill from the farmers but it is not right to impose heavy penalty. In response to a question, Manohar Lal said that if the HERC sticks to its decision and implements it, then the Haryana government will deposit the farmers' amount at increased rates. The Chief Minister has called upon the farmers not to steal electricity.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal said that Antyodaya Urja Suraksha Yojana has been announced to provide great relief to the very poor families whose electricity connections have been cut off. Under this scheme, Antyodaya families, whose annual income is less than one lakh rupees and their electricity connections have been disconnected due to arrears of electricity bills, waiving 50 percent of the original arrears of such families, electricity connections will be given immediately. Will go Such families will be given connection by depositing 50 percent of the principal amount or the average electricity bill for a maximum period of one year, whichever is less.

For example, if the average annual electricity bill of a family is Rs 8000 or Rs 10000 and their total outstanding amount is Rs 6000, then out of this amount of Rs 6000, Rs 3000 will be taken from such families and if someone's bill is more than Rs 20000 So 10000 rupees for one year will be taken the same amount. This amount will also be added to the next bills in installments.

The Chief Minister said that Haryana is the first state in the country where 80 percent of the villages in rural areas are getting 24-hour electricity. In the year 2014, there was electricity supply in 105 villages, but as a result of our efforts, today 5694 villages are getting 24 hours electricity and by the end of this year, remaining villages will also be brought under 24 hours electricity supply.

He said that the line loss which was 34 percent in the year 2014 has come down to 11 percent. He said that the government has released 61500 new tubewell electricity connections. Apart from this, more than 50 thousand solar power connections have been provided under the Kusum scheme.