Realize pending arrears

The government has accelerated the pace of revenue collection in the Valley and in the last ten days of November month, the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has claimed to have realized an amount of over Rs 86 crores. But, instead of going ahead with its mission of realizing the pending arrears from the defaulters, the reports have suggested that the government is mulling to increase the monthly tariff of consumers, who are not yet connected with the smart meters. Such a decision is certainly going to push the poor to the lurch at large as the people have already witnessed an increase of 12 per cent in the monthly electricity tariff. In November last year, the monthly tariff of electricity was increased by the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) from around Rs 700 per month to Rs 920. The decision of tariff hike was also admitted by the top officials, saying that the previous tariff was as per 2014-15 as there was no change since then and the regulator has allowed to hike the tariff by 8-12 per cent this year. Just a year after the hike was witnessed; the consumers in non-metered areas, as per reports, are set to witness another jolt in the form of 15 per cent tariff hike. Keeping in view the last year’s hike, the government should consider reversing its decision if it is under consideration and should instead focus on realizing the pending arrears from the defaulters so that the government is able to reduce the losses further and also the people, especially the poor class would heave a sigh of relief.