No power subsidy for officers from January 1
From January 1, electricity subsidies will no longer be provided to Grade-1 and Grade-2 state government officers and employees. The decision was taken in July but will be implemented from New Year. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced this while chairing a meeting of Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd here today.
Sukhu urged the officials to propose new ideas to ensure financial stability and efficiency of the board.
He said that the government was planning to recruit linemen and T-mates to ensure adequate field staff to aid in providing uninterrupted power supply and quality services to the consumers. He also directed the officials to prepare a rationalisation plan for the deployment of staff across the board.
Sukhu said that the government would provide an additional corpus fund of Rs 100 crore to financially strengthen the board.
Apart from withdrawing subsidies from Grade-1 and Grade-2 government officers and employees, the government had also revised electricity tariffs for industrial and commercial consumers. The measure is likely to generate around Rs 500 crore as additional revenue every year.
