Himachal Pradesh CM announces free electricity for consumers till 125 units; free water supply to villages

Shimla: Ahead of the Assembly Election scheduled to be held in the latter half of this year, the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur on Friday announced a slew of measures on the occasion of the 75th Himachal Day.

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While addressing an event in Chamba, the CM said his government has decided to provide free power for up to 125 units from 1 July. A total of 11.5 lakh families will be benefited from it, said the CM.

Himachal Pradesh | Electricity bills till 125 units will be free of cost for the people. 11.5 lakh families will be benefited from it. Also, people in rural areas will be exempted from paying water bills. Women will now have to pay only 50% fare for bus tickets: CM Jairam Thakur pic.twitter.com/ahxEHv3tpx

— ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2022

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In addition to this, water bills in rural areas will be waived off, which would result in families getting a benefit of ₹30 crore.

He also announced a 50% discount on travelling in HRTC buses for women, which would cost the exchequer ₹60 crore.

Further, he said that ₹5 crore will be dedicated to expediting work on Holiuttarala road and the mini secretariat at Chamba.

He announced beautification and improvement at Chamba town, besides taking steps to solve its traffic problem.

AAP’s attack

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Following this, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the BJP-led Himachal Pradesh government of “copying” the Arvind Kejriwal model of governance.

Addressing a press conference, senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia said the BJP government’s announcements ahead of assembly polls in the state are an attempt to “hoodwink” people, as the saffron party has always said it is “completely” against freebies like free electricity.

Addressing an Important Press Conference | LIVE https://t.co/Ci8unb16El

— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) April 15, 2022

“What the BJP government has announced today is an attempt to partially copy the Kejriwal model of governance. They have started staging a drama of copying the Kejriwal model of governance in the state with an eye on elections,” Sisodia said.

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He said the BJP and its “friends” are in power in 18 states but they have not thought of providing cheaper electricity in any of these.

After coming back to power in Himachal Pradesh, the BJP will take back all the announcements that its chief minister had made, Sisodia claimed, asking people of the hill state not to “fall in their trap”.

“Vote for the AAP in elections,” he appealed to them.