It is good that the chief minister Omar Abdullah has put an end to the controversy related to the alleged proposal to hike electricity tariff in J&K by claiming that there is no such move in the offing.
Reportedly his response came while replying to a question of a media person after launching an auction of limestone mineral blocks along with Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy.
Omar Abdullah has junked reports of imposition of a 20 per cent surcharge on the base power tariff for consumption during designated peak hours. The helmsman has said that he don’t know from where this rumour started. He said, “I am also the Power Minister and so far no such discussion (to hike power tariff) has taken place, leave aside my signature on the claimed proposal. There is no proposal to hike the power tariff before the Government.” Omar also said that he had already made it clear in the budget that there will be no hike in the electricity tariff.
Now, this was the version of the chief minister over the matter but what is to be seen is that a responsible official of the Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has reportedly given a statement on the issue claiming that aforementioned corporation had sought approval from the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) to impose the surcharge on all categories of consumers except agriculture.
As per the reports published in the media the KPDCL official was none other than its MD Mahmood Ahmad Shah and at no point of time, he had issued a rebuttal over his statement. It was earlier reported that the aforesaid proposal was part of the Time of Day (ToD) tariff mechanism, under which electricity rates vary based on consumption hours.
In a broader context, this entire episode also highlights the urgent need for greater coherence and transparency within the power sector administration. When contradictory statements emerge from within the same government machinery—one from the political executive and another from a senior technical official—it creates unnecessary anxiety among consumers who are already burdened by rising living costs. The government must ensure that all departments speak in one voice on sensitive issues like power tariffs, as ambiguity not only erodes public trust but also fuels speculation that could have easily been avoided with prompt clarification. A coordinated communication strategy and timely dissemination of accurate information are, therefore, essential to prevent such controversies from snowballing in the future.
However, the reports over the issue sparked strong opposition across political and trade circles. Most likely Omar’s stance over the issue is the outcome of stiff opposition by the general masses as already his leadership is facing flak for not fulfilling the poll promise of free electricity upto 200 units to people.
All said and done, for the time being, it is quite satiating for the people of Kashmir that there is no likelihood of any increase in power tariff in the near future as the matter has been closed by none other than the CM Omar Abdullah himself.
