Amritsar: Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had made many tempting promises in order to gain power in Punjab. One of these promises was to provide 300 units of free electricity to the people of the state. After coming to power, the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government implemented this promise. But, now the government itself is getting buried under the burden of this promise. This scheme has now become a problem for the already debt-ridden Punjab. In fact, according to a report, the AAP government in Punjab is yet to pay more than Rs 20,000 crore as a power subsidy, which is likely to increase to Rs 23,000 crore at the end of the current financial year.

According to the report, the total subsidy paid to various sectors was Rs 604.57 crore in the financial year 1997-1998, when free electricity was announced for the first time in the state. For the first time in the state, former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal announced a free power supply to the agriculture sector in 1997. Since then the financially unstable state has paid Rs 1.18 lakh crore to the Punjab State Electricity Corporation Limited as a power subsidy alone. This figure is for the last financial year. In the last 25 years, the farmers, scheduled caste (SC) communities, and the industrial sector have benefited from the subsidy.

However, under the current government headed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the situation seems to be worsening, as the state has to pay Rs 22,962 crore as power subsidy for various categories to the power company, which is a huge amount and is not worth any money. will also be a record payment made by the government to the electricity provider. As per reports, the government intends to pay Rs 15,846 crore towards the power subsidies in the current financial year. In this, the arrears of Rs 7,117.86 crore of the previous year are also attached. The government will spend Rs 6,947 crore on providing free electricity to the agriculture sector and Rs 2,503 crore on providing free electricity to industries. According to reports, the whopping amount of Rs 22,962 crore also includes 300 free units of electricity for the citizens of Punjab.

Let us tell you that the government in the state has been giving electricity subsidies since 1997, but AAP increased the burden on the state exchequer by promising to give 300 units of electricity free of cost to everyone. According to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), power consumption has remained constant at 14,000 MW even during non-peak demand. From this, it can be clearly predicted that there will be an increase in electricity subsidy and there will be further reduction in the state exchequer. The taxpayers of the state are reportedly paying PSPCL more than Rs 2 crore per hour due to rising power subsidies.

Let us tell you that when the previous government announced a refund of Rs 3 per unit up to 7 kW load last year, many customers reduced their consumption to get relief. But the AAP government has to pay Rs 2,300 crore this financial year in lieu of subsidy. Out of 74 lakh domestic consumers in the state of Punjab, 87 percent got a 'zero bill' in November. Also, PSPCL is incurring a loss of over Rs 1,880 crore due to the promise made by the Punjab CM. Whereas, last year PSPCL had a profit of Rs 1,069 crore.

Became a global threat! More havoc in Latin American countries than in China

CM Shivraj suspends officer, HC cancels his suspension

BJP cancels Jan Aakrosh Yatra due to Corona crisis, while Rahul says- This is an excuse...