Goa Cong MLAs united to tackle BJP govt: Amarnath Panjikar
Panaji, Oct 20: Days after two of its MLAs quit the party and joined the ruling BJP, the Goa Congress Saturday claimed that its remaining legislators were "united".
Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte had resigned as Congress MLAs and joined the BJP, bringing down the strength of the opposition party to 14 in the 40-member Goa Assembly.
"There is no question of any other MLA leaving the Congress party. All the remaining MLAs are united and are working to tackle the BJP-led government which is determined to stay in power by hook or by crook," Goa Congress spokesperson Amarnath Panjikar said here Saturday.
He added that the Congress would contest bypolls in both Assembly seats -- Shiroda and Mandrem that were vacated by Shirodkar and Sopte respectively.
Panjikar alleged that BJP MLAs and ministers were "misusing" chief minister Manohar Parrikar's illness for their personal gains.
The Congress leader alleged that proposals were being cleared by the Investment Promotion Board (IPB) by claiming they were approved by Parrikar through video-conferencing.
"Can a person who was airlifted and brought on a stretcher from AIIMS to his residence hold a meeting through video conferencing from 3:30pm to 8:30pm?" he questioned.
Parrikar, who is suffering from a pancreatic ailment, arrived in Goa on October 14 after being hospitalised in New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
