Himachal CM, ministers to give up power subsidy

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu took a significant step in his initiative to reduce subsidies for well-off taxpayers by announcing on Wednesday that he would voluntarily forgo his own free power subsidy.

- ASHWANI SHARMA

He also urged the state's affluent citizens to follow suit and relinquish their power subsidies for redirecting it to the poor sections and low-income groups. This will help in saving Rs 200 crore per annum.

Flanked by three cabinet ministers Chander Kumar, Col (Rtd) Dhani Ram Shandil and Vikramaditya Singh, the Chief Minister said it was a conscious decision of the cabinet to voluntarily stop availing the benefits of power subsidy.

The cabinet ministers will also be covered under a similar initiative, besides IAS officers and other tax-payers in government jobs.

Under the current policy all power consumers in the state are allowed to get 125 units of free power respective to their financial status.