RTC bus fares hike, enhanced power tariff hit common man.

Nizamabad: On the one hand the people of the district are reeling under severe drought due to deficit rainfall. Under such circumstances , the State government’s decision to increase the rates of TSRTC and the power tariff has come as a bolt from the blue for the people who are already facing severe hardships.

The prices of essential commodities have already skyrocketed. The enhancement of power tariff in Nizamabad district alone has put an additional burden of Rs 36 crore annually.

In the entire district, there are 9.4 lakh consumers comprising traders, domestic users and industrialists and through the consumption of power, Rs 40 crore income is generated every month. With the enhancement of power tariff, an additional Rs 3 crore every month has fallen on the people. There is an increase of 25 paise to 30 paise on each unit. People, especially the poor, who consume 0 to 100 units of power do not feel the pinch.

However, for those who consume more than 100 units of power every month have to pay more. After the enhancement in the power tariff, those who used to pay Rs 700 for utilising 200 units of power till now have to pay Rs 760 from now on.

For those who used to pay Rs 1,000 for utilising more than 250 units will now have to pay an additional amount of Rs 200. For those who used to pay Rs 1700 for consuming 300 units of power will now have to pay an additional amount of Rs 300.

With regard to the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC), the government went for a massive hike in the bus fares which will come into force from Monday. There has been a hike of Re 1 in the Palle Velugu buses for travelling 30 km and if the distance is more, there would be an increase of Rs 2.

In the deluxe buses, there has been a hike of 10 per cent in the bus charges, it is 8 paise increase per km in express buses and 11 paise in super luxury buses. While there has been an increase of 14 paise per km in Indra buses, it is 16 paise per km in Garuda buses. There are 250 palle velugu buses plying in the district and they cover a distance of 2,50,000 km every day ferrying passengers.

If one Re is collected from each passenger after travelling a distance of 30 km, it come to Rs 10 lakh every month and Rs 10 crore annually. As a result, there is a huge financial burden on the general public. CPM leaders are demanding a roll back in the enhanced prices. Speaking to The Hans India on Saturday, CPM leader Ramesh Babu lashed out at the TRS government for enhancing the power and transport charges.

The government has brought misery on the common man, he lamented. He said that it was highly deplorable that the poor and the middle classes were made to suffer as a result of the losses incurred by the TSRTC. He accused the people of following anti-people’s policies.

Ramesh Babu warned that the leftist parties would start a massive agitation if the government fails to roll back the prices.

By: R Bhoopati