Patna: In contrast to different politicians who promise free electrical energy to the lots, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has disapproved the populist measure, saying he stayed away from it even through the time of elections.
Nitish as an alternative referred to as for uniform tariff charges — ‘one nation, one energy tariff’ coverage — for states to buy electrical energy from the central authorities.
“Some states are giving electrical energy free of charge. Some individuals talk about giving electrical energy free of charge. Some are making bulletins. Many discuss shopping for energy at increased costs and supplying the shoppers with out charging them something,” the Bihar chief minister mentioned Wednesday on the launch of energy tasks price over Rs 15,000 crore.
He went on to criticise the pattern of saying and offering electrical subsidies as “inappropriate”.
“I’ve taken a stand towards offering free energy even in my election rallies,” Nitish mentioned, with out taking the names of states like Punjab, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. “We give subsidies to our energy shoppers. We buy electrical energy at a a lot increased price and supply our shoppers at a a lot decrease price.”
From 700 MW in 2005, he mentioned, the electrical energy consumption has gone as much as 6,738 MW in Bihar.
In making his dislike recognized towards the aggressive populism that prompts such freebies, Nitish seemingly seems to have endorsed PM Narendra Modi’s view towards ‘revari’ politics regardless that the Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) and the Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP) parted methods in August.
The prime minister made the ‘revari tradition’ comment in July whereas cautioning the individuals of risks posed by the politics of freebies. The identical month he requested states to clear energy dues totaling Rs 2.5 lakh crore that they owe to discoms and gencos.
Although Modi didn’t title anybody in his message, many noticed it as a disapproval of Aam Aadmi Get together’s (AAP) election bulletins of giving free electrical energy to voters. The AAP has been constantly making this promise throughout elections in Delhi, Punjab and now Gujarat.
“Nitish Kumar’s views on revari tradition seems to match PM Modi’s. In Gujarat, PM Modi has been asking individuals to reject free energy. He requested them to earn cash from the ability provide,” BJP chief and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi mentioned, stressing that free energy ruins the financial system of a state.
After the PM’s message to the individuals, the BJP informed its state models to chorus from saying “short-term freebies” in election manifestos, saying that such bulletins burden the exchequer and should result in monetary catastrophe for the states.
Additionally Learn: How AAP govt can rationalise free electrical energy, scale back subsidy burden, and maintain ballot promise
Altering face of Bihar’s electrical energy situation
Together with Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, Bihar had been clubbed within the Bimaru group within the mid-Nineteen Eighties for his or her poor efficiency in Human Improvement Index that evaluates high quality of life.
Earlier than Nitish took energy in 2005, energy provide was erratic in Bihar with many villages remaining exterior the electrical energy map. Even locations having electrical energy connections exterior Patna used to get energy provide for about four-five hours a day.
Within the final 22 years through which he took oath as chief minister eight instances, Nitish can declare to have ushered in lots of reforms, together with higher energy connectivity, within the jap state.
In 2017, Nitish introduced that each one villages in Bihar have electrical energy and added that each family would have a free energy connection by the tip of the subsequent calendar 12 months.
In response to energy sector officers, Bihar pays Rs 800 crore per 30 days to electrical energy era firm NTPC for buy of energy. Whereas the state purchases energy at Rs 5.80 per unit from NTPC, it offers a subsidy of Rs 1.83 per unit to shoppers.
Regardless of going through demand to provide free energy to farmers, Nitish has not succumbed to the populist measure and most popular different choices like giving subsidy in buy of diesel to the farming group.
“Bihar can’t afford free energy distribution in its present monetary situation,” Asian Improvement Analysis Institute (ADRI) director P. P. Ghosh remarked. The economist mentioned that at most, the state can provide as much as 50 models of free energy to the poor. “However past that it will be the wealthy gaining advantages.”
Former professor of economics N. Ok. Choudhary mentioned the message of Nitish sounds extra political than one rooted in economics. “Free energy all relies upon should you can afford it and if you’re prepared to take the state to chapter. Right here Nitish seems to be giving a message to the RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) that he has choices. The RJD has been urgent that Nitish goes to Delhi whereas Tejashwi turns into the Bihar CM,” he mentioned.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Additionally Learn: One state’s freebie might be one other state’s welfare