The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Tuesday, April 25, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

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Power tariff in HP hiked
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 24 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has increased the electricity tariff by 20 paise per unit for different categories of domestic consumers.

The tariff for commercial and industrial sectors have also been hiked substantially. The move is likely to fetch an amount of Rs 70 crore annually. This is the second hike in power tariff in the past two years.

The new tariff, according to a notification of the HPSEB issued here today, will be effective from May 1.

According to sources, the proposal to increase the tariff was cleared on April 20.

The tariff has been doubled for domestic consumers with consumption of over 500 units. Against the existing tariff of Rs 1.25 per unit, they will have to pay Rs 2.50 now.

For consumers in the lowest slab of consumption ranging between 1 to 45 units, the increase is of 20 paise per unit with the tariff becoming 70 paise per unit.

A spokesman of the HPSEB said those in the lowest domestic slab would have to bear the average additional impact of Rs 4.50 per month. These consumers constitute about 65 per cent of the total number of domestic supply consumers of the state.

The non-residential consumers, including offices, hotels, restaurants and shops will have to pay an additional tariff ranging between 20 to 40 paise per unit based on the consumption slab.

These in the lowest slab of first 200 units will now have to pay Rs 2.30 per unit as against the current rate of Rs 2.10 per unit and the highest slab of consumers with consumption above 500 units will have to pay Rs 3.20 per unit as against the existing tariff of Rs 2.80.

An increase of 20 to 85 paise per unit has been ordered for the industries. For the public water and irrigation pumping consumers an increase of 20 paise for low-tension connections and 30 paise for high-tension connection has been ordered. These categories were at present being charged Rs 2.90 and Rs 2.70 per unit.

Ministry likely on April 27
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 24 — The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, is expected to reconstitute his ministry on April 27 after he returns from Delhi after consulting the BJP leadership on the issue.

Mr Dhumal, who left for Delhi yesterday, is learnt to have met senior leaders of the BJP today to discuss the issue of recasting his ministry.

All ministers and chairmen of various boards and corporations had submitted their resignations to the Chief Minister on April 19.

It is learnt that Mr Dhumal was planning to recast his Council of Ministers on April 27.

Many BJP MLAs were seeking ministerial berths and have followed Mr Dhumal to Delhi. The Health Minister, Mr J.P. Nadda, who returned from abroad, was also camping at Delhi.

It was being speculated that Mr Babu Ram Mandayal and Mr Rakesh Pathania might be inducted in the ministry. A couple of other names were also being referred.

Mr Dhumal was facing the ticklish issue of reinducting Mr Mohinder Singh, PWD Minister, whose candidature was strongly being opposed by HVC chief Sukh Ram, sources said. Mr Mohinder Singh had joined the ministry as a nominee of the HVC, but recently soared his relations with Mr Sukh Ram by having sided with Mr Dhumal on certain issues.

Mr Sukh Ram has convened a meeting of the Executive Committee of the HVC here tomorrow to discuss further action against Mr Mohinder Singh, who has already been suspended from the party on the charges of anti-party activities.

It is learnt that Mr Sukh Ram during his meeting with Mr Dhumal yesterday demanded that Mr Mohinder Singh should not be inducted in the ministry until his fate in the party was finally decided.

On the other hand, supporters of Mr Mohinder Singh met here today and unanimously urged Mr Sukh Ram not to stretch the dispute further in the interest of the HVC.