A 90-year-old woman in Karnataka received the shock of her life when she was informed that her shanty's electricity bill, which only included two LED bulbs, was Rs one lakh.
Girijamma typically receives a monthly bill between Rs 70 and Rs 80 for her small hut in Bhagyanagar, where she lives with her son in Bhagyanagar in the Koppal district.
After receiving a bill totaling Rs. 1,03,315 for the month of May, the elderly woman was in for a rude shock. She had been connected to electricity through the Bhagya Jyoti program, which aims to provide low-cost electricity to people living in slums who are below the poverty line.
After the news spread, officials from the electricity department rushed to her house and discovered that the meter had a glitch and that the person collecting the readings had made a mistake.
Later, the officials requested that she not pay the bill and promised to revise it.
Karnataka 'bandh' over electricity tariff
Meanwhile, the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) has announced a statewide strike today (June 22) to protest against the price hike in electricity charges. All trade and industry bodies have been asked to close their establishments during the Karnataka bandh call on Thursday, expecting some disruption in everyday life.
The CPM has extended support to the Karnataka Bandh today.
KCCI president Vinay Javali said the bandh call is only for business establishments and is a voluntary one. The essential services will not be disturbed and the movement of vehicles is not likely to be affected. Business establishments will incur losses owing to a day-long bandh, but Javali said industries may not survive with such an unprecedented increase in power tariff.
"We request all the Trade and Industry to close their establishment on 22 June. This is in protest of abnormal price hike in the Electricity charges by ESCOM's. For the last eight days, we have made attempts to convey the seriousness of the impact of the hike in electricity charges. However, no solution is forthcoming from the Officials or government representatives," the Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry said in a statement.
Also Read | Karnataka 'bandh' over electricity tariff today | CHECK what all is open, what's closed
Also Read | Karnataka: Government re-issues guidelines to schools on 'Bag weight' of students
