20 September 2022 02:28 pm Views - 1910
Claiming that only about 12,000 religious places are getting electricity bills over Rs. 3,990 out of the total of 48,682 such places of worship, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said plans are afoot to introduce solar power for such places.
He told Parliament that only 12,586 religious places were getting electricity bills over Rs. 3,990 even after the tariff revision.
"A total number of 48,682 religious places are provided with connections so far. About 36,000 such places are getting a maximum bill of Rs. 3,990 even after the tariff revision. A total of 15,195 religious places are using less than 30 units and getting a monthly bill of Rs 330. Some 11,151 religious places have to pay Rs. 1,260 as monthly bill now," he said responding to a question by SJB MP Ajith Mannapperuma.
The Minister said state minister of power and Energy Indika Anurudda was entrusted with the task to initiate a project to introduce a solar power project to the 12, 586 religious places, utilizing the US$ 100 credit line from India.
He also said steps would be taken to import solar panels from India and China on credit line to facilitate the places of worship and low income families.
MP Mannapperuma said Rs. 60,000 as electricity bill is being paid by Parliament monthly and questioned as to why Parliament is not powered by solar panels.
The Minister said steps would be taken to install solar panels in separate lands or government buildings and some buildings which are not suitable to install solar panels.
MP Kumar Welgama said certain Buddhist monks who are travelling in V8s are worried about electricity tariffs and said the CEB should not provide electricity at a loss. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)