Bill passed in Himachal Vidhan Sabha, power consumers to pay environment, milk cess

The Vidhan Sabha today passed the Himachal Pradesh Electricity (Duty) Amendment Bill, 2024, to pave the way for levying the environment cess and the milk cess on the consumption of power by industries and domestic consumers, barring consumers having zero bill.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the government had earned Rs 130 crore from the milk cess imposed earlier. “We are trying to bring about a change in the earlier system where many freebies were offered. Now, we are trying to generate revenue without burdening common people,” he added.

He said, “The cess is being imposed on the consumption of electricity by consumers to strengthen milk producers and uplift farmers. The environmental cess on power supply has been proposed to promote the tourism industry and ensure a clean environment.”

Sukhu said that the amount collected by imposing the two cess would be deposited with the Power Department to be ustilised for these specified purposes. A milk cess of Rs 10 per liquor bottle was already being charged but now it would also be imposed on electricity supply to industries and general consumers. He added, “The environment cess is nominal and will not affect anyone. It will be 2 paise for small industrial units, 4 paise for medium, 10 paise for large industrial units, Rs 2 for stone crushers and Rs 6 on charging electric vehicles,” he added.

“We will seek ‘green bonus’ for protecting forests but we are forced to purchase power at Rs 7 per unit from October to March every year,” he added.

Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur said ever since the Congress formed government in the state, an attempt was being made to shift burden on poor people. The diesel price had been hiked by Rs 7 and 125 units of free power subsidy had been withdrawn. “You had promised to provide 300 units of free power but now you are withdrawing what we gave,” he added.

Thakur said that the government was burdening common people in the garb of the poor financial health of the state. “Water connection charges have been enhanced from Rs 10 to Rs 100, which is totally wrong. You have not spared any section of society,” he added.

He said, “We are a power surplus state but still electricity is cheaper in Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. So, why will anyone come to Himachal.”