AAP launches campaign against high electricity bills for consumers across Maharashtra, launches website- hisaabdo.in for comparison with Delhi fares and to automate complaints with MERC
Mumbai- The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday launched ‘Hisaabdo’- a state wide campaign in Maharashtra, against high electricity bills, which have broken the back of the common man, who is already troubled due to the economy tanking, wages being paused, uncertainty of the future, lack of food security and other such issues, due to the Covid Pandemic.
As part of the campaign, hisaabdo.in, a website which serves to automate complaint filing by anguished consumers with the MERC and the Government of Maharashtra, against extremely high bills across the state, was launched.
“This a people’s movement, people deserve the right to know. It is only lack of political will which is stopping the government from implementing these reforms. We will hold these discoms accountable. We demand that consumption of upto 200 units of electricity be made free for the domestic consumer as well as rationalization of fares across the board by the MERC”, said Ranga Rachure, AAP Maharashtra Convenor.
The website also has a built in ‘Bill Calculator’ to enable the consumers to compare their bills, with the tariffs under the Delhi Govt.
“The Delhi government has revolutionized governance in India, through the Delhi Model of Governance. Delhi has the cheapest power tariff in the country and has recognized power as basic dignity for every citizen and has thus ensured consumption of 200 units of electricity, to be absolutely free. If this can happen in Delhi, then why not in Maharashtra? “, asked Durgesh Pathak, while launching the campaign.
“The Delhi government could implement these long overdue power sector reforms, due to political will and it’s honesty of purpose, to benefit the end user. In Maharashtra, we have had some of the largest tariffs in the country coupled with the issue of load shedding in rural areas. Such high power bills are unacceptable. How did the situation come to this?”, said Dhananjay Shinde, Secretary, AAP Maharashtra.
“We were told that privatization, will improve overall efficiency, by promoting competition and the benefits being passed onto the end consumer, but instead we have seen only sky high bills with Mahavitaran, going to the extent of saying payments haven’t been adjusted, despite being made and Adani Power looking at power distribution not as a public utility but as a cash cow.
“Not only, have correction rates been added at one go to these bills, but the cumulative additions have also been billed to the highest slab”, accused Preeti Sharma Menon, senior AAP Leader.
“At this difficult time, when there is what so much darkness on account of Covid, it is time to bring light in the lives of the Aam Aadmi, by reducing the tariff for the most economically vulnerable sections of society. This will bring more cash into their pockets, it will enable them to buy a book for their child or a critical medicine, overall it will ease their life a little. That is the least that we can do for the weakest. If we can’t help them, then who do we help”, said Kishore Mandhyan.