Bhubaneswar: Odisha Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo on Wednesday highlighted state government’s 300 units free electricity assurance and appealed consumers to conserve electricity at home.
“Electricity consumed needs to be paid for. Services cannot be provided free. Learn to conserve energy, do not expect free electricity.”
Replying to Basudevpur MLA Ashok Kumar Das’ question, the Deputy CM who is also the Energy minister said that people should learn to conserve energy and not expect free electricity.
Steps are being taken to educate consumers on energy conservation through video messages, he said.
“The consumers need not worry about (faulty) smart meters. If they find anything suspicious technicians from the discom (Tata Power) will come and check the device in their presence,” the Deputy CM added.
Singh Deo reiterated BJP’s promise of 300 units of free electricity under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
Jajpur MLA Sujata Sahu raised a question about pending electricity bills of 5T High Schools to which the Energy Minister replied that since there was no 5T department nor any budgetary provision, “the schools and students are bearing the brunt”.
As schools came up under the 5T, the students are now paying the price. Besides, panchayats are also struggling to pay the electricity bills, he said.
The Odisha government is now providing Rs 105 crore to panchayats to clear their outstanding electricity bills.
“If schools are yet to clear their bills, they can approach Tata Power for deferred payment. They can also approach education department minister for a discussion on the matter,” the Energy Minister further stated in the Assembly.
Replying to BJD MLA Badri Patra’s question that why district-level committees are not being held regularly, the Deputy CM assured that it will be held on a regular basis. Singh Deo also asked Patra to explain why the previous government was not holding meetings of these committees (during BJD regime).
