POWER PLUS
The power tariff hike (7.5 power tariff hike for above 100 units, DC June 24) is one more blow to the middle classes who are struggling to survive with rising prices of pulses, vegetables, petrol, and other consumable goods. Only honest consumers will suffer. The government must exempt households which consume up to 250 units per month from the power hike.
M.P. Nair The government must control pilferage of power and act against illegal power connections. It must also streamline the transport sector by controlling illegal operation of buses by the private sector and work to increase occupancy rates in RTC buses. Merely raising power tariff and bus fares will not do well. J. Ajaykranthi Reddy L.B. Nagar, Hyderabad Non-technical electrical losses are at 16.6 per cent which are related to defective meters and energy thefts. Just as cops use CCTVs to detect crimes, the TSERC has to use technology to detect energy thefts. Consumers must also switch over to power saving methods like using LED bulbs and solar power to bring their bills down. G. Murali Mohan Rao
Secunderabad The government’s claim that 60 lakh of the 86 lakh households consume less than 100 units of power per month and will not be affected by the hike is only a ploy to escape criticism. Almost every household consumes over 100 units per month. The government can do well to cut down on useless publicity stunts and instead reduce the financial burden of the RTC and Discoms.
M. Jeevanand Bowenpally, Secunderabad RTC can make profits by other means to reduce the burden on passengers like allowing use of its buses and depot walls for advertisement space. Bus depots be modernised with better facilities by privatising the depot managements. Gudipati Anirudh
Secunderabad Misappropriation of funds by the TSRTC staff, like purchase of new spare parts at higher rates, selling of old ones cheaply, not issuing tickets and pocketing the money have resulted in the RTC running into losses. A similar scenario exists in the power sector. The 9hour free power to the agriculture sector is also unjust. The government must first check the flaws in the departments and then impose hike, if there is no other way out.
Ismail Shaik Uppal, Hyderabad