Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 22: The ruling National Conference (NC) today said the elected Government has “no role” in the proposal seeking a 20 per cent electricity surcharge during peak hours in Kashmir.
Party leaders maintained that even Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is unaware of the move, asserting that the Government will oppose it “tooth and nail.”
According to the party, the proposal was not initiated by the J&K Government but by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC), a quasi-judicial body responsible for power tariff regulation across India.
NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said it was important to understand the origin of the proposal.
“The JERC regulates tariffs nationwide and may not fully grasp the region’s harsh winter conditions and heavy dependence on electricity,” he said.
He said the NC-led Government has not proposed the surcharge and will resist it at every stage.
Dar added that the party will challenge the recommendation and that the Chief Minister will present the Government’s position before the Commission whenever required.
The party also accused the Lieutenant Governor of being unaware of the regulatory process and attempting to deflect responsibility from the Central Government.
He said the LG should familiarise himself with JERC’s functioning before making statements, adding that any such hike would burden people already struggling with rising living costs and severe winter conditions.
Dar reiterated that the NC Government would not allow the proposal to be implemented and would stand firmly with the public.
NC senior leader and Habba Kadal MLA, Shamima Firdous, also said the Chief Minister was not aware of the proposal and had taken “serious note” of it.
“It is strange that people are saying this Government has done it. Has the CM said this? He has taken serious note of it and he does not know about it. We will not let this happen,” she said.
She added that NC legislators have been elected by the people and the Government exists to serve them.
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