Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday defended the government’s decision to increase electricity tariffs by 6.83 per cent, saying the administration had never promised that power rates would remain unchanged and asserting that the government had sought to keep the latest increase as low as possible.
Omar said the government’s commitment to provide 200 units of free electricity would be fulfilled through a solar-power scheme and maintained that the tariff revision had no connection with the free-power initiative.
Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said the latest increase had come after a gap of four years and was significantly lower than tariff hikes implemented under previous governments.
“We increased the rates by as little as we could. We are not celebrating the increase in electricity rates. It was a compulsion for us,” Omar said.
Omar said electricity tariffs had previously been increased by more than 14 per cent under earlier governments, while the increase four years ago was around 15 per cent.
He argued that the latest revision was therefore relatively modest and reflected the financial pressures confronting the power sector.
The Chief Minister said the government’s dependence on such measures could gradually decline if losses in the electricity sector were reduced.
He emphasised that improving the financial health of the power sector would require efforts to reduce losses and improve efficiency, suggesting that the government’s long-term objective remained to make electricity supply more financially sustainable.
Addressing concerns over the government’s electoral promise of 200 units of free electricity, Omar clarified that the commitment would be implemented through a solar scheme.
He maintained that the free-power initiative and the latest tariff revision were separate issues and should not be viewed as contradictory.
The government’s solar-based approach is expected to reduce dependence on conventional electricity supply for eligible households while helping consumers generate part of their own power.
Omar’s clarification comes amid criticism from opposition parties and sections of consumers over the revised electricity rates, with concerns being raised about the additional financial burden on households.
On speculation surrounding a possible Cabinet reshuffle, Omar said the exercise would be undertaken whenever the government considered it necessary.
He clarified that his earlier statement had only ruled out a reshuffle before August 15 and should not be interpreted as a permanent decision against changes in the Council of Ministers.
“There is no crisis in the government. Our work is going on. When there is a need for a reshuffle, we will do it,” he said.
The statement comes amid political speculation over possible changes within the government, although Omar maintained that the administration was functioning normally.
The Chief Minister also expressed concern over reports of threats allegedly received by Kashmiri Pandit employees and called for a comprehensive investigation by the police, security and intelligence agencies.
Omar said such threats should not be taken lightly, particularly given previous instances in which members of the Kashmiri Pandit community working in the Valley had faced security threats.
“Such threats should not be taken lightly. Ensuring the safety and security of our employees is a major responsibility of the police,” he said.
He urged the authorities to establish the source and credibility of the latest threats and take appropriate measures to protect the affected employees.
Referring to incidents in the past involving Kashmiri Pandit employees, Omar said the authorities must determine whether the latest threats were genuine and identify those responsible if they were found to be credible.
He stressed that the safety of government employees remained a serious responsibility and called for coordinated action by the concerned agencies.
At the same time, Omar pointed out that law and order and security fall under the jurisdiction of the Lieutenant Governor’s administration, urging the agencies concerned to conduct a thorough investigation.
The Chief Minister’s remarks come as the government faces pressure on two fronts—addressing public concerns over rising electricity costs while ensuring the safety of employees working in sensitive areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
With the tariff revision now in effect and the proposed solar scheme expected to play a key role in delivering the government’s 200-unit free-power commitment, implementation and transparency are likely to remain closely watched by consumers and political stakeholders.
