Sanjay Nirupam ends fast after assurance from Chavan on power tariff

MUMBAI: Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam today called off his four-day old fast after an assurance from Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan that a decision on his demand to reduce power tariff in Mumbai would be taken in the next two days.

The MP from Mumbai North had been on a hunger strike outside Reliance Energy office in suburban Kandivali since Thursday seeking lowering of rates for power consumers in the metropolis, which was excluded from the just announced cut in tariff.

Sources close to Nirupam said Chavan spoke to the Lok Sabha member and asked him to call off his fast as the government will take a decision on reducing power tariff in the financial capital in a couple of days.

State Congress President Manikrao Thakre later met Nirupam, who is also AICC Secretary, and conveyed Chavan's message. After this, Nirupam ended his fast.

Nirupam, however, warned that he would start his agitation again if the decision was not taken in the given time-frame.

Mumbai was excluded from the government's January 21 decision to slash rates by 20 per cent for domestic consumers, industries and powerlooms served by the state-run Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MahaVitaran).

Consumers in the metropolis get electricity from private utilities Tata Power, Reliance Infrastructure and also civic agency Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport undertaking.