Kejriwal’s energy play: After Uttarakhand and Punjab, promise of free electrical energy in Goa forward of polls

Ahead of the Assembly elections in a number of states, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) nationwide convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is promising subsidised electrical energy to customers if voted to energy.
In a bid to duplicate his success within the nationwide capital, the get together chief Wednesday promised 300 models of free electrical energy to every household in Goa, after making related bulletins in Uttarakhand and Punjab.
“Every family will get up to 300 units per month free electricity,” Kejriwal informed reporters in Panaji. “If people in Delhi can get free electricity, then why not free power for people in Goa,” he mentioned. Despite Goa being a power-surplus state, there are frequent power-cuts within the coastal state, he added.
Goa is slated to go to polls in February subsequent yr. According to the state chief minister’s price range speech, over Rs 3,000 crore have been allotted to the facility sector for the yr 2021-22, and the state is seeking to push in the direction of decentralised solar energy vegetation.
Uttarakhand
In Uttarakhand, too, Kejriwal on Sunday promised 300 models of free electrical energy a month for each family. He additionally introduced a waiver of pending payments, free energy for agriculture, and uninterrupted provide if elected within the state.
Kejriwal mentioned that fulfilling the promise of free electrical energy will value round Rs 1,200 crore which could be simply finished from the Rs 50,000-crore state price range. He added that state Power Minister Harak Singh Rawat had just lately promised to supply free electrical energy as much as 100 models however the CM later denied any such proposal.
Punjab
Last month, the AAP chief had promised 300 models of free energy to all home customers in Punjab if the get together is voted to energy in 2022. He additionally ensured round the clock energy provide in Punjab and a waiver of pending electrical energy payments, whereas stating that each one current electrical energy schemes, together with free energy for farmers and the current price of tariff for industries, will proceed.
Kejriwal mentioned the free electrical energy would imply zero invoice for not less than 80 per cent of the households.

The energy subsidy within the state in agriculture sector in addition to to BPL, minorities and business has already put state authorities underneath debt. In 2018, the whole energy subsidy invoice crossed Rs 10,000 crore and the federal government has not been capable of clear a steadiness of Rs 5,000 crore. In June this yr, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh directed the Finance Department to launch Rs 500 crore to PSPCL as officers mentioned that they may not buy energy as a result of the utility didn’t have funds.
Speaking of the general debt within the state, Kejriwal has mentioned that the state of affairs was related in Delhi too, nevertheless it was made worthwhile. “We will implement such a model in Punjab also. A government with good intentions will be brought,” he added.
Opposition jumps on the freebie-bandwagon
Taking cue from Kejriwal’s announcement, the BJP and the Congress in Uttarakhand, too, introduced related schemes. Power Minister Rawat mentioned his division will quickly desk a proposal within the state Cabinet to supply free electrical energy to home customers as much as 100 models per 30 days, whereas these consuming 101 to 200 models will likely be charged per cent of the fee. “Free electricity should be given to the poor. Those who can afford to pay, they should pay the bill,” he mentioned.
Meanwhile, senior Congress chief and former CM Harish Rawat introduced that if voted to energy, his get together would be sure that all residents would stand up to 100 models of electrical energy freed from value within the first yr, and as much as 200 models within the second yr.
In Punjab, days after Kejriwal made his announcement, Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu additionally pitched for offering as much as 300 models of free electrical energy and round the clock energy provide to customers within the state.
“Punjab already provides 9000 crore subsidy but we must do more for Domestic & Industrial consumer giving power at Rs 3-5 per unit instead of surcharge inflated Rs 10-12 per unit, along 24-hour supply with No Power-Cuts & Free Power (Up to 300 Units).. It is definitely achievable,” mentioned Sidhu in a tweet.
Before the final Assembly elections, Congress had promised 200 models free electrical energy to all households. The ruling get together is now making efforts to satisfy that promise. Earlier this month, Amarinder Singh had mentioned his authorities would quickly announce its authorized technique to counter the “ill-conceived” PPAs in the course of the earlier SAD-BJP regime. Of the 139 PPAs signed by the erstwhile SAD-BJP authorities, 17 had been sufficient to cater to the state’s full energy demand, the CM had mentioned.
On the opposite hand, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Punjab has trashed Kejriwal’s promise, stating that he was “trying to introduce a flop model, which had already failed in Delhi”.