In Punjab, the AAP government kept its promise: announcing 300 units of free electricity in the budget, giving Rs. 5000 crore will be hit

- This free electricity scheme is likely to impose an additional burden of Rs 5,000 crore on the government

Punjab, Ta. 27 June 2022, Monday

The first budget of the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab was presented in the Assembly on Monday. The government has promised to carry out its election manifesto through the budget along with other announcements. Finance Minister Harpal Cheema reiterated his promise of free electricity while presenting the budget. He said that from July 1, provision has been made in the budget to provide up to 300 units of free electricity to all households.

Finance Minister Harpal Cheema today unveiled a budget of Rs 1.55 lakh crore. No new tax has been imposed in the meantime. The budget focuses on education, health and agriculture. Announcing free electricity, the finance minister said the government was going to fulfill its first guarantee.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mane said in April that the Punjab government would provide 300 units of free electricity per month to every household in the state from July 1. Punjab is the second state after Delhi where Aam Aadmi Party is providing free electricity. Free electricity was one of the main promises of the party during the Assembly elections. Party leader Arvind Kejriwal made the promise during his election campaign in June last year.

AAP MLA Aman Arora said there would be some conditions for free electricity as well. If a consumer consumes more than 600 units of electricity in two months, he will have to pay the full amount of electricity. Punjab gets electricity bill every two months. Chief Minister Mane then said that Scheduled Castes, freedom fighters and people living below the poverty line would be exempted. If they spend more than 600 units of electricity in 2 months, they will only have to pay for it. That is, if they use 640 units, they will have to pay only 40 units.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mane also said that electricity rates for industrial and commercial consumers would not be increased. Free electricity will also continue for agriculture. The free electricity scheme is likely to impose an additional burden of Rs 5,000 crore on the government. The government, however, said it would not impose additional burden on the common man through other taxes. The government has kept its promise by not imposing new taxes in the budget.