Tangmarg, Aug 25 (JKNS): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday launched a sharp counterattack on opposition parties over the recent electricity tariff hike in Jammu and Kashmir, reminding them of earlier increases during their tenure and asserting that his government had opted for the lowest possible revision.
Addressing a public rally in Tangmarg, as per news agency JKNS, CM Omar said those criticising the present hike should first account for the tariff increases effected when they were in power.
“Four years ago, electricity rates were increased by 15 per cent. When the PDP government was in power, the tariff was also increased by around 13.5 to 14 per cent. At that time, did you not feel that injustice was being done to the people?” the Chief Minister said.
His remarks come amid a growing political row over the average 6.83 per cent increase in electricity tariffs approved by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for Jammu and Kashmir. The revised rates will come into effect from September 1, 2026, and remain applicable for the 2026-27 tariff period.
The tariff decision has drawn criticism from several opposition parties. The PDP and Jammu & Kashmir Apni Party held separate protests in Srinagar on August 24, demanding rollback of the hike and accusing the National Conference-led government of adding to the burden on consumers.
BJP leaders have also criticised the decision, particularly in the context of the National Conference’s electoral promise of providing 200 units of free electricity to eligible households.
Responding to the criticism, Omar said his government had never promised that electricity tariffs would remain unchanged.
“When did we say that the rates of electricity will not increase? We said that we will provide 200 units to the poorest people for free,” he said.
He maintained that the free-power commitment and the tariff revision were separate issues, adding that the government intends to provide the promised free electricity through solar panels.
The Chief Minister also defended the quantum of the latest increase, saying it came after a gap of four years and amid rising inflation, higher input costs and the increasing quantity of electricity being supplied to consumers.
“We have only increased the price by around 6 per cent. We are not celebrating by increasing the rate of electricity. This was our helplessness,” Omar said.
According to the tariff order, JPDCL and KPDCL had proposed a 5 per cent increase, while the regulator approved an average 6.83 per cent revision after assessing their revenue requirements. The government has also committed Rs 2,420.78 crore in financial support, helping keep the increase substantially below the level that would otherwise have been required to bridge the revenue gap.
Omar said reducing power-sector losses would be key to preventing further tariff increases in the future.
“As our losses in electricity decrease, we will not have to increase the rate of electricity,” he said.
He further assured people that his effort would be to ensure that there was no further increase in electricity tariffs during the remaining tenure of his government.
The Chief Minister also said his government would continue working on issues including clean drinking water, school infrastructure, healthcare, road maintenance and development of a fruit market, while reiterating that the government would seek to fulfil its commitments over the next three-and-a-half years.
He also announced that work on the long-pending mini-secretariat at Tangmarg, initiated during his earlier tenure, would resume this year and be completed soon. (JKNS)
