Imphal, November 19 2010: Even as though general consumers does not get power for hardly five hours in a day, the state cabinet today decided to hike the power consumption charge by 30 percent from the existing rate.

The cabinet which was earlier scheduled to be held tomorrow (November 20) was preponed and was held today because Chief Minister has been summoned to the Prime Minister's Office, New Delhi to attend a review meeting of the prevailing situation in the state.

SPF spokesperson and IFCD minister N Biren briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting said that the cabinet has decided to hike the power consumption charge from the existing rate citing that the rate had remained un-revised for the last many years.

Government took the decision taking into account the rate of tax collected in the neighbouring states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Assam.

The CM observed saying that as per the cabinet decision the existing per unit power consumption charge of Rs.2.60 will be increased to Rs.3.25 with certain relaxation to heavy power consumers.

For the heavy consumers, the rate will be half the normal charge, he said asserting that Mizoram state had already hiked the rate from Rs.1.45 to Rs.1.65 .

It may be recalled that state electricity department had already fixed the minimum tariff for power consumption charge at the rate of ' 410 per month colliging with collecting the same around three month back.

Observing that the law and order in the state have not improved the expected level, decided an extended a year following further effective from December 1.The cabinet discussed on the disturbed area status in the whole of the state excluding the area under Imphal Municipal Council where the disturbed area status was lifted in 2004 .

The cabinet also took a decision to compensate the losses properties and others which were damaged in the wake of the spate of protest against the holding of elections to the ADCs in the hill districts in May and June.

The amount to be compensated will be based on the FIR case registered with the police and DCs of each districts will be asked to submit a detailed report based on the FIR cases registered in the police stations in each districts, Biren said.

On the other hand, the cabinet also resolved to ask the Governor to summon the winter session of the state Assembly on December 22.The seating is likely to last two days.

The final decision in this regard will be decided by a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee of the Assembly.

The committee will also decide the business to be transacted during the session.

For the time there is no consideration of electing the Speaker of the Assembly.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister, O Ibobi is leaving for New Delhi tomorrow as he has been learnt to have been called by the Prime Minister's office to attend a review meeting on the utilization of funds released to the state under the Prime Minister's Package and action taken report of the acute fuel shortage.

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