Bhubaneswar: Hitting out at Odisha’s BJD government over promises made in its election manifesto, BJP on Wednesday sought a clarification on the ruling party’s claim to provide free electricity to people.
Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, senior leader and former state BJP president Samir Mohanty came down heavily on the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD accusing it of trying to hoodwink the people of the state by making misleading promises in its poll manifesto.
The BJP leader claimed that BJD through advertisements had earlier announced its decision to provide free electricity, but now the party says provide free power up to consumption of 100 units.
Asking BJD to explain its intentions, Mohanty said the ruling party must clearly tell people as to how many units will be provided free to the consumers.
Accusing the regional party of ignoring the interests of power consumers in the state, the senior BJP leader said Odisha is endowed with abundant coal reserve. The state has several power plants, but electricity is being provided to Tamil Nadu at lower rates while the consumers are bearing the brunt and paying more, he claimed.
Sating that BJP in its manifesto pledged to provide free electricity to consumers under PM Suryaghar programme, Mohanty said after ruling the state for 25 years, BJD now claims that the consumers will get free electricity. Describing electricity as a catalyst for economic development, Mohanty said there is no clarity in BJD’s announcement and it is trying to mislead the people again during the election time.
Stating that there are over one crore electricity consumers in the state, he said the ruling BJD should clarify how many families will get free electricity.
Asking BJD to release data on households using 50 units, 50 to 100 units and 100 units to 150 units and above, Mohanty said if there are approximately 1 to 1.5 lakh people whose electricity consumption is within 50 units and if 100 units are provided free, their electricity bill will certainly go up during summer.
Noting that the people in Odisha are paying 90 paise per unit which is more than the national average, he said 27 states in the country are providing 200 units of free electricity or other subsidies.