CM Siddaramaiah rejects contractors' corruption claims, challenges them to approach court
Bengaluru/Mysuru (PTI): Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday dismissed allegations of rampant corruption raised by the Karnataka State Contractors' Association, asking them to take their grievances to the court.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Siddaramaiah said, "Let them go to court."
He claimed that the contractors were being coerced into levelling such allegations.
The CM's statement comes after the association warned that it would go on an indefinite strike if pending bills worth Rs 33,000 crore are not cleared by December 1.
Association President R Manjunath said the contractors have waited for two-and-half years, but no action has been taken.
"We met the Chief Minister five times. He only gave assurances. Our bills are not getting cleared. We have been asked to wait for a month. If our problems are not solved, then we will go on an indefinite strike," Manjunath said.
He added that the association would approach the Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi if the demands are not met.
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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.
