EC must take full responsibility for BLO deaths during SIR: M A Baby
New Delhi.(PTI): CPI(M) General Secretary M A Baby on Wednesday called the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls a "criminal exercise" and demanded that the Election Commission immediately halt it and "take full responsibility of the lives lost" in the process.
In an X post, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader said the exercise is not only risking mass voter disenfranchisement but is also endangering the lives of booth-level officers (BLO).
"Distressing reports are emerging from across the country about the deaths of BLOs tasked with carrying out the Special Intensive Revision in an unreasonably short timeframe," Baby said.
"The Election Commission's haste in proceeding with this exercise at the behest of the ruling BJP, which has become all the more evident with UP Govt's FIRs against BLOs, despite a pending petition before the Supreme Court, not only risks mass voter disenfranchisement but is now endangering precious lives too," he said.
Baby demanded that the poll panel should ensure compensation for bereaved families.
"The ECI must immediately halt this criminal SIR exercise, take full responsibility for the lives lost, and ensure compensation for the bereaved families. Nothing less is acceptable," the post read.
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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.
