Wokha, September 8 (MExN): The Lotha Lower Range Public Organisation (LLRPO) and Lotha Middle Range Public Organisation (LMRPO) have sought a review of the recent increase in fixed electricity charges for rural households under the Communitization of Electricity system.
In a representation to the Sub Divisional Officer, Department of Power, Sanis, the organisations said the earlier charge of Rs 210 for Village Electricity Management Boards (VEMBs) had been increased to Rs 260, while charges in other categories, earlier around Rs 400-430, had reportedly been raised to approximately Rs 520.
The organisations urged the department to consider the economic condition of rural households, many of whom depend on agriculture and irregular daily-wage income. They also pointed to the financial difficulties faced by elderly people with little or no independent income.
Seeking transparency on the basis for the hike, the organisations asked the department to provide details on the number of households/VEMBs covered in each area and the corresponding revenue collected over the last three financial years. They also sought clarification on whether the increase applies specifically to the Lotha Lower and Middle Range areas or to all rural areas across Nagaland.
They further sought details on whether the hike was based on revenue deficit, cost of supply, power purchase cost, or the gap between electricity supplied and electricity consumed or billed. The organisations also asked for the formula and methodology used to arrive at the revised charges of Rs 260 and Rs 520, along with data on total units supplied, consumed/billed and the corresponding revenue gap in the concerned areas.
The organisations also highlighted Wokha’s contribution to power generation, noting that the district hosts the 75 MW Doyang Hydroelectric Project.
Citing the Government of India’s confirmation that Nagaland receives 12% of the electricity generated from Doyang free of cost under the power-sharing arrangement, they urged the government to examine whether a portion of the State’s free-power benefit could be used for preferential or subsidised electricity, or a dedicated local-area benefit, for project-affected and host communities in Wokha.
The organisations also sought an assessment of infrastructure and operational constraints affecting electricity supply, including transformer capacity and failures, distribution-line deficiencies, power and technical losses, staff shortages and office and field-level constraints.
The LLRPO and LMRPO are willing to support the department in taking identified gaps to the government for appropriate intervention and funding, rather than allowing infrastructure deficiencies to ultimately be recovered from rural consumers, it added.
On supply reliability, the organisations said prolonged interruptions remained a serious concern, citing a reported three consecutive days without electricity supply last week. They suggested that where fixed charges are imposed regardless of actual supply, a proportionate adjustment or rebate should be considered when supply is absent for prolonged periods.
The organisations said people were not unwilling to pay for electricity, but were seeking reliable supply, transparent calculations and a tariff reflecting their actual capacity to pay. They also stated that consultation had already been completed with VEMBs, LLRPO, LMRPO and other local representatives.
The representation was signed by John Murry, President, LMRPO, and Yansatung Jami, Vice President, LLRPO. Copies were also submitted to the Additional Deputy Commissioners of Bhandari and Sanis and the VCCs/VEMBs of the Lotha Middle and Lower Ranges.
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