This is a key issue in bad governance which needs to be challenged with all our strength. It hits every citizen and voter in Mumbai and sets a bad precedent for India as a whole. Here are some facts ...
1. The MERC has passed increase in energy charges beyond expectation and the main beneficiary seems to be Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (R. Infra). A visit to the web link: http://www.rel.co.in/Rel/Customersupport/Tariff.jsp shows: Consumption Old Rate New Rate % Increase (units) (from 01st Jun 09) 1 - 100 1.45 2.96 104 101 - 300 3.75 5.56 48 301 - 500 5.75 9.16 59 501 + 6.50 10.61 63 There is also the: Fixed Charge, Fuel Adjustment Charge, Reliability Charge, Govt. Duty, Maharashtra Tax, Security Deposit. This means the 'small consumer' will be paying more than double while the middle class will be paying 60% more than before. Shortly R. Infra will demand higher deposit amount due to increased three month charges. Over 25 lakh Mumbaikars will be soon shocked by this single action of mis-governance. 2. The new energy charges for city ... supplied by BEST, are also increased and are NOT same as those for the city suburbs. So we have a situation where for same service and product in one city area, citizens are made to pay differing rates which is inequitable. The media reports of 9% and 7% increase are total mis-guidance. 3. Against the citizens constitutional rights, appeal against the 'new rates' cannot be filed in the Bombay High Court, the nearest judicial body. One has to go to the Supreme Court at exorbitant cost. The Govt. in the past allowed the situation where appeal against MERC cannot be preferred in Mumbai. 4. We are informed that the WPI is now in the negative, that is the Wholesale Price Index shows serious contraction in rates and prices due to the general economic recession. Its another matter that the CPI shows drastic increase in price of food articles including salt. Yet the city suburban citizens will pay drastically higher rates for energy which is not food based. 5. In Delhi, it is reported, there has been no increase in energy rates for seven years. Yet ... in Mumbai every year there have been increases without any government check. Energy is a basic service and product for at least urban areas and citizens have no choice on supplier or rates. 6. Protests by citizens, social and political groups have been put down with severe police brutality. 7. There is serious confusion about the authority of 'R. Infra' in distributing electrical energy and also it being now involved in activities against the basic license given to the erstwhile BSES. In conclusion, this is another case of the Government failing in their duty to provide basic facilities at equitable rates and also a case of serious mis-governance in allowing a private service provider to gain at the cost of citizens without adequate analysis or justice by a statutory body. Are citizens and activists to also go to sleep as the Govt. seems to have. In Delhi, citizens held back inequitable increase from their payments and forced the retraction of increase in rates. Are Mumbaikars capable of holding back the increase and paying as per earlier rates? Are they ready to take to the streets in a democratic satyagraha to protect their rights? Is the Govt. going to abolish the MERC which has clearly failed in its bounden duty to protect citizens and not Corporates? Will the media take up the citizens cause and give wide publicity to the injustice being done them? Must every issue be taken to the over loaded Courts for justice? Kindly respond with your comments. You may also post at the blog or web site. PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO OTHER CITIZEN GROUPS AND NGOs ALL OVER INDIA, SO THAT CITIZEN EMPOWERMENT CAN DEVELOP IN INDIA. Kindly post this at 'social networking sites' for better reach. -- Praful Vora, Convener - JNM. (Cell: +91 900 401 7654) JNM will work towards fundamental political, electoral and governance reforms. Website: www.jagrutnagrik.com Blog: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jagrutnagrik/
