Protest against removal of power subsidy in Bengal

The Socialist Unity Centre of India has called a one-day general strike in West Bengal on January 27 to protest the removal of cross-subsidy in power tariff.

About 1.8 million consumers served by the private power utility CESC Ltd would be affected by the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission's decision, SUCI general secretary Pravash Ghosh said on Tuesday in Kolkata.

The decision would force the farmers, domestic subscribers and commercial users to pay bills at a uniform rate. The CESC's domestic customers will also pay arrears to the tune of nearly Rs 5 billion.

The government has ruled out the possibility of providing any subsidy. The new tariff and the arrears will be collected from April 2003.

Ghosh alleged that the state government, which is also opposing the new power tariff structure, was hand in glove with a private utility major. "If the government wants it can scrap the commission's recommendations, but it isn't doing so."

The state's main opposition party the Trinamool Congress is supporting the SUCI's stance, but has said it is yet to decide on supporting the strike. "That we will decide after a meeting of the policy-making body," party legislator Pankaj Bandopadhyay said.

The ruling Left Front coalition, which has said it did not have the money to subsidise the CESC customers, has said it will go to court against the commission's recommendations.

Power Minister Mrinal Banerjee told the state assembly that the government would challenge the decision in the state High Court.

Banerjee said legal experts were being consulted and the government would not balk from moving the Supreme Court on the matter.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has already urged the central government to amend central laws dealing with cross-subsidy in power tariff, he added.