Power surcharge unjustified

PUDUCHERRY: The AIADMK on Sunday condemned the electricity department’s announcement that a power surcharge of Rs 34.25 would be levied on every unit, for the period between April 2010 and October 2010.   The move was reportedly aimed at raising additional revenue of `46.40 crore, to meet the budgetary expenditure. The government should instead pay the full amount as subsidy to the department, he told reporters at a press meet here. He said that the arrears —to be recovered from the consumers in equal instalments between September 2011 and March 2012— was not justified, as it would put further burden on them.He said that if the government felt that the surcharge was necessary, it should explain their reasons for the move. He said the claims of the government, that the surcharge was imposed due to the increase in the cost of purchasing power could not be accepted.On the other hand, even though the big industries and businesses owed the government around `300 crore in arrears, no steps were taken to recover this amount, he charged.  Further, `65 crore could have been saved, if steps had been taken to avoid a loss of 16 per cent, which is above the national average, on transmission (lines), Anbazhagan claimed.If the government wanted to impose the tariff, then it could have brought up the issue in the Assembly. It was a pre-planned move and the government was waiting for the commencement of the Indira Nagar by-polls to formally announce the surcharge, he charged.BJP threatens to move court Meanwhile, BJP state secretary R V Saminathan has warned that the party would move court against the implementation of the surcharge.