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Inflated electricity bills

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July 24, 2017

Why in news?

A fact-finding committee reported that farmers had received inflated power bills in 2014-15.

What is the Status of Indian farmers?

  • Majority of Indian farmers are doing marginal and subsistence agriculture.
  • The farmers meet high amount of operational costs.
  • Operational costs include fertilizers, seeds, wages, expenses for tilling, ploughing, irrigation etc.
  • Electricity is one of the important operational costs for the farmers.
  • But in few instances the farmers face inflated electricity bill which creates distress among them.

What is the report about?

  • In 2015, the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) had appointed a three-member committee.
  • It looked into allegations that farmers had received inflated electricity bills in 2014-15.
  • Apart from officials, energy activists are also a part of the committee.
  • The committee commissioned a field study by the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B),
  • Based on which it was to submit a report and suggest methods to improve the functioning of MSEDCL by December 2015.

What are issues with the report?

  • Recently the report was submitted to the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB),
  • The report didn’t had the signature of the three-member committee’s chairperson.
  • The director of MSEB, claimed to have no knowledge of the submission of the report.
  • There was difference of opinion arose when the committee discuss the findings before presenting it to the MSEB.

How such issues can be addressed?

  • Electricity bills need to be revised by the committee.
  • The reports need to collected on losses and the board need to refund the excess amount to the farmers.
  • Many of the states had given waiver of electricity bill to the agrarian community, such models can also be followed.

 

Source: Indian Express

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