Himachal govt counters AAP: Offers free electricity

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], August 28 : Mounting a strong counter-attack on the Aam Aadmi Party's election sop of free electricity the BJP-led Himachal Pradesh government has promised 125 units of free electricity per month to over 14 lakh voters of the State.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while presiding over the function organized by the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd. to launch the Scheme, '125 Units of Free Electricity' to the consumers of the State held at the Paddal ground at Mandi on Sunday said, "The state government has taken many such welfare decisions during the tenure of the present government to ensure direct benefits to the common people."
The Chief Minister said that the state government recently took a decision that 125 units of free power would be provided to the people of the State which has benefitted over 14 lakh electricity consumers of the State as they were now getting zero electricity bills.
Thakur said that the state generates surplus electricity and it has about 24,567 MW power potential, out of which 11,138 MW stands harnessed.
"The State has set a target of harnessing 10,000 MW of additional power potential by the year 2030, out of which about 1500 to 2000 MW would be solar power," he said.
Himachal CM further said that the state government had changed policies from time to time to encourage project builders to invest not only in hydropower projects but also in solar, wind and hybrid cum pumped storage. "Due to these efforts of the State Government, construction work of 24 hydroelectric projects has been completed in the state during this tenure," he added.
The Chief Minister said that the State of Himachal Pradesh was known as the 'Power State' and the State Government felt that the electricity consumers should get some benefit from this distinction of the State.
"The State Government thus decided to provide 125 units of free power to the consumers. With this decision of the State Government, out of total 22,59,645 domestic consumers of the state, over 14,62,130 consumers were now getting zero Electricity bill," said CM Thakur.
He said that on the consumption of 125 units of power, the consumers earlier had to pay about Rs 600. "Thus providing 125 units free power, the State Government has ensured saving of about Rs 600 per month for over 14 lakh consumers," he added.
Highlighting the benefit given by the present government to women in the state, Thakur said, "The women constitute fifty per cent of our total population and one cannot even imagine development without active participation and overall development of the women. With this objective in mind, the present State Government was providing 50 per cent concession in bus fare in HRTC buses."
He said that an additional amount of Rs 25,000 revolving fund has been provided to all the women's self-help groups associated with the village organization.
"The Government has started Mukhyamantri Swavalamban Yojana to make women empowered and self-reliant and subsidy upto 35 per cent was being provided to them to start their own self-employment venture," he said.
The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares a special bonding and benevolence with the people of the State.
"Today in his 'Mann Ki Baat' programme, the Prime Minister made reference to the Gangot panchayat of Kangra district for making children of migrant labourers special guests during the celebration of 15 August this year. The Prime Minister also referred to the community participation of the people of Spiti valley during the harvesting of their crops. This shows the special bonding the Prime Minister shares with the State and its people," the Chief Minister said.
He also urged the people of the state to save power as power is power generated.
"The state government has made unparalleled development during the current tenure," he said.
He said that over 5000 kilometre roads have been constructed and a record number of Divisions and Sub Divisions of Jal Shakti, PWD and HPSEB have been opened and SDM offices and Developmental Blocks have been created during the tenure of the present State Government.
He said that the State Government was also celebrating 75 years of existence of the State and organizing 75 events throughout the State to thank the people of the State for their contribution to this glorious developmental journey of the State.
He urged the people of the State to give wholehearted support to the present State Government so that the pace of development goes uninterrupted.
The Chief Minister virtually interacted with beneficiaries of this scheme. All these beneficiaries thanked the Chief Minister for starting this scheme for providing 125 units of free power to the consumers and providing them much-needed relief.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated 33KV Electric Sub Station Kalyard, Mandi with a cost of Rs 3.29 crore.
Power Minister Sukh Ram Chaudhary while addressing the event virtually thanked the Chief Minister for launching this scheme, which has provided much-needed relief to the consumers of the State.
He said that keeping in view the COVID-19 pandemic, the present State Government headed by Chief Minister Thakur had earlier decided to provide free electricity up to 60 units and now the State Government has decided to provide 125 units of free power to the consumers, which have benefited over 14 lakh consumers.
Managing Director HPSEB Ltd. Pankaj Dadwal welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries present on the occasion.
A film produced by the HPSEB Ltd. on the progress the State has made in the power sector was also screened on occasion.
Education Minister Govind Singh Thakur, MLAs Anil Sharma, Rakesh Jamwal, Vinod Kumar, Col. Inder Singh, Jawahar Thakur, Hira Lal, Inder Singh Gandhi, Chairman Milkfed Nihal Chand Sharma, Chairman Zila Parishad Pal Verma, former MLA DD Thakur and Kanhaiya Lal, Mayor Mandi Municipal Corporation Rupali Jaswal, Chairman Wakf Board Mohd. Rajbali, Deputy Commissioner Mandi Arindam Chaudhary, and Superintendent of Police Shalini Agnihotri were present on the occasion among others.