Bhubaneswar: Opposition parties in Odisha-BJP and Congress on Wednesday stalled the Odisha Assembly demanding immediate rollback of power tariff hike that has 'pinched the pocket of common men' during the time of Covid-19 pandemic.
During Question hour, Congress MLAs created heavy ruckus over the issue in the House forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House till 11.30 am.
Soon after the House reassembled for the day, Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik too raised the matter during Zero Hour.
"The Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) has hiked 30 paise per unit at the behest of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. At a time, when common people are finding it hard to arrange square meal for them during covid period, power tariff hike is very unfortunate. Congress will hit the streets against it," Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said.
BJP MLA and Opposition Chief Whip Mohan Majhi said. "This is the second time that the State government has given an electric shock to the common man. Youths lost their jobs during Covid-19 pandemic and the State government has failed to provide them work. At such a precarious time, power tariff hike is unfortunate. We demand immediate rollback of the increased amount."
The BJD, on the other hand, blamed the Opposition parties for stalling the House without discussing the matter. Party legislator Amar Satpathy said both BJP and Congress are habituated in creating disturbances in Assembly proceedings.
"The State government has nothing to do with the power tariff hike as the power supply was no more under the State government. There is power regulating body-Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) who decided on the issues in consultation with all stakeholders," Satpathy added.
On Tuesday, the BJP had staged demonstration in front of the office of the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) protesting power tariff hike.