Bhubaneswar: Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro on Tuesday adjourned the House and called an all-party meeting following uproar by opposition BJP and Congress against the power tariff hike.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Leader of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik said the tariff hike proposed to be effective from April 4 would seriously affect the domestic consumers and demanded its roll-back by the government. Naik was supported by Congress legislature party leader Narasingha Mishra.
Since it is second hike in a year, the last one effected during COVID-19 pandemic, it will cause a lot of hardship for the consumers, particularly in summer, said Opposition chief whip Mohan Charan Majhi.
BJD member Amar Prasad Satpathy said the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) decides power tariff in consultation with distribution companies and the consumers. The state government does not have any role in it, he added.
As BJP and Congress members rushed to the Well in support of their demand and stalled the proceedings, the Speaker adjourned the House till 11.30 am and called for an all-party meeting.