Outrage among Bhatkal residents against HESCOM over hefty Electricity billing during lockdown
Bhatkal: Residents in Bhatkal are left shocked and outraged after their electricity bills have reportedly inflated significantly during the Coronavirus lockdown. Supported by an independent study, a local organization 'Speech Foundation’ in Bhatkal recently evening organized a virtual press conference to detail their claims.
The organization claimed that it had independently studied the electricity bill cycles of 31 houses of various localities in Bhatkal and had come across major inflation in bills during the lockdown period. It added, in some cases the inflation as high as 177%.
Of the 31 one cases studied by the organization, at least 8 cases had unprecedented inflation of over 100% while one case clocked inflation of 99%.
The members of the organization, part of the independent study asserted that it was evident the HESCOM had charged exorbitantly to the consumers post lockdown as cumulative bills for 3 month period are excessively high.
The inputs of the study shared showed that the study was based on the bills of the previous eight months. It also added that the HESCOM had possibly failed to apply monthly consumption slab formulas which have resulted in the inflated bills that have caused inconveniences to the people in town.
It noted “It’s been observed HESCOM failed to apply monthly consumption slab formulas. It's assumed they applied the highest tariffs per unit charges by issuing a three-month bill” adding that it was not ruling out the possibility of a scam on the part of HESCOM who might just take advantage of COVID-19 crisis to loot people.
On being asked, what the organization believed was the solution, Abu Hajar, who had extensively took part in the campaign and study asserted that the HESCOM on an immediate basis should respond and should come up with a solution on its own or immediately waive off the extensive amounts of the bill. It also added that it was open to negotiating if the power supply company would charge the highest bill of the consumer in one year before the lockdown.
People on the other hand have also alleged irregularities and lack of response from the local authorities with social media claims adding that in some cases the authorities forced consumers to pay the bills as it has been charged or to face disconnection of power supply. This, the claims added had resulted in people paying off the bills fearing disconnection of power supply.
The organization also added that it had officially contacted HESCOM with their findings through email but claimed that they were yet to get a response from the authority.
Interestingly, similar reports have come in from various parts of the country including in a few places in Karnataka wherein people have alleged scam on the part of power supply companies and have sought the attention of the government to the issue.
Vartha Bharati also tried to contact officials of HESCOM but they were unavailable for immediate comment. The story will be updated as and when we get their comment on the issue.
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Cong takes swipe at PM over India not being part of US-led 'Pax Silica' grouping
New Delh (PTI) The Congress on Saturday said it is perhaps not very surprising that India is not part of a US-led strategic initiative to build a secure silicon supply chain, given the "sharp downturn" in the Trump-Modi ties, and asserted that it would have been to "our advantage if we had been part of this group".
Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the news of India not being part of the group comes after the PM had enthusiastically posted on social media about a telephone call with his "once-upon-a-time good friend and a recipient of many hugs in Ahmedabad, Houston, and Washington DC".
In a lengthy post on X, Ramesh said, "According to some news reports, the US has excluded India from a nine-nation initiative it has launched to reduce Chinese control on high-tech supply chains. The agreement is called Pax Silica, clearly as a counter to Pax Sinica. The nations included (for the moment at least) are the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia."
"Given the sharp downturn in the Trump-Modi ties since May 10th, 2025, it is perhaps not very surprising that India has not been included. Undoubtedly, it would have been to our advantage if we had been part of this group."
"This news comes a day after the PM had enthusiastically posted on his telephone call with his once-upon-a-time good friend and a recipient of many hugs in Ahmedabad, Houston, and Washington DC," the Congress leader asserted.
The new US-led strategic initiative, rooted in deep cooperation with trusted allies, has been launched to build a secure and innovation-driven silicon supply chain.
According to the US State Department, the initiative called 'Pax Silica' aims to reduce coercive dependencies, protect the materials and capabilities foundational to artificial intelligence (AI), and ensure aligned nations can develop and deploy transformative technologies at scale.
The initiative includes Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia. With the exception of India, all other QUAD countries -- Japan, Australia and the US -- are part of the new initiative.
New Delhi will host the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 on February 19-20, focusing on the principles of 'People, Planet, and Progress'. The summit, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the France AI Action Summit, will be the first-ever global AI summit hosted in the Global South.
Prime Minister Modi and US President Trump on Thursday discussed ways to sustain momentum in the bilateral economic partnership in a phone conversation amid signs of the two sides inching closer to firming up a much-awaited trade deal.
The phone call between the two leaders came on a day Indian and American negotiators concluded two-day talks on the proposed bilateral trade agreement that is expected to provide relief to India from the Trump administration's whopping 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods.
In a social media post, Modi had described the conversation as "warm and engaging".
"We reviewed the progress in our bilateral relations and discussed regional and international developments. India and the US will continue to work together for global peace, stability and prosperity," Modi had said without making any reference to trade ties.
