Samyukta Kisan Morcha Warns Centre Against Passing Electricity Amendment Bill 2022

The Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022 should not be introduced or approved during the Monsoon session of Parliament; the Samyukta Kisan Morcha advised the Union Government on Thursday.

The farmer union said they had learned that the Union Cabinet had already approved the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022 and that the government was likely to introduce and pass it during the current monsoon session of Parliament.

“One of the primary objectives of the one-year-long farmers’ campaign was the withdrawal of this Bill. The Union Government wrote the Samyukta Kisan Morcha on December 9, 2021, stating that there would first be a discussion with all stakeholders on the clauses of the Electricity Bill that have an impact on farmers. The Bill won’t be presented to Parliament until after the conversation with the Morcha.” In a statement, SKM said

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SKM said no such conversation had ever occurred in the previous eight months. In light of this, the Union Government’s written pledges have been blatantly betrayed.

The Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022 seeks to facilitate private enterprises’ entrance into the electricity distribution industry, according to SKM.

SKM also said in a statement that if the measure is enacted, the government will make large profits by raising electricity prices for farmers and all other groups of citizens.

“Cross-subsidization will disappear. Abolishing free or inexpensive power for farmers. Farmers’ production costs will continue to grow. Both in rural and urban regions, domestic electricity rates will skyrocket. Engineers’ and power workers’ employment would be negatively impacted “It said further.

The National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers has called for nationwide demonstrations on August 9 and a stop to work if the government unilaterally introduces and passes the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022. The SKM has also called for immediate massive nationwide protests if this happens.