Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Tuesday squarely blamed the previous Left Front government for the controversy surrounding smart electricity meters in the state, asserting that the project was initiated under their watch in 2015 and was marred by poor execution and financial irregularities flagged by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). His remarks came amid months of sustained protests by the opposition Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) and Congress against the smart metering rollout and rising power bills in Agartala.

The Left Front's Role: What the Record Shows

Nath stated that in 2015, the Left Front government awarded a work order worth ₹80.7 crore to a private company for the smart meter project, with a stipulated completion period of two years. According to the Minister, the company failed to meet the deadline — and even after 27 months, only symbolic work had begun.

'Out of 43,000 smart meters, only 34,300 were working. However, within a period of three months, these smart meters also stopped due to technical glitches,' Nath said.

He further cited the CAG report, which, according to him, pointed to financial irregularities by the contracted private firm — irregularities that not only resulted in an 'infructuous expenditure' of ₹42.76 crore but also led to the 'extension of undue favour to the contractor.'

2017 Announcement and the Opposition's Contradiction

Nath also pointed to a 9 July 2017 announcement made during the Left Front tenure, when the then Power Minister Manik Dey publicly declared the installation of smart meters across the state to ensure 'full and timely power bill collection.' The Minister argued that the opposition — led by former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar — was now 'confusing the people' by protesting a project they themselves had initiated and publicly championed.

'They are hatching a conspiracy by forgetting their past,' Nath alleged, accusing the CPI-M and Congress of political opportunism on the issue.

On Rising Electricity Bills: Government's Position

Addressing consumer grievances over steep electricity bills, Nath was categorical that the state government has no direct role in fixing tariffs. He explained that the Tripura Electricity Regulatory Commission (TERC) — described as an independent and autonomous body — determines expenditure for the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL), sets consumer slabs, and fixes charges including the Fuel and Power Purchase Cost Adjustment (FPPCA).

'The hike in electricity bills is completely done by the TERC. The state government has no link with this,' Nath said. He added that TSECL itself has no authority to increase or decrease bills once TERC finalises the structure.

Government's Response to Consumer Discontent

Nath disclosed that Chief Minister Manik Saha, Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, and senior officials had already convened a meeting to discuss the electricity bill issue in detail. He indicated that another round of deliberations was imminent.

'The government cannot be a silent spectator. Soon, we will sit again to solve the problem and see how to help the consumers,' Nath said, adding that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government was 'pro-people and consumer-friendly.'

The Power Minister chaired a separate meeting at the TSECL office in Agartala before addressing the media. With opposition pressure intensifying and consumers visibly aggrieved, the government's next steps on tariff relief and the smart meter rollout will be closely watched.