The Odisha government on Tuesday said that it had no provision to give free power to consumers and would not be able to give consumers up to 300 units of free electricity.

People can only get free power if they opt for PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the Mohan Charan Majhi government said.

Deputy chief minister K.V. Singh Deo, who holds the energy portfolio, made a statement on the issue of free power to the people on the floor of the state Assembly after the government received feedback that consumers started removing meters from their homes with the hope that they would get free power.

“Such confusion has emerged as the BJP leaders promised to provide free power up to 300 units to the people during the election campaign. After the government announced the implementation of the Subhadra scheme for women, under which ₹50,000 would be given to women in five years, people in many parts of the state believed that the BJP was going to give free power and started removing the meters,” said a consumer, Pratap Pradhan.

The removal of meters has caused huge losses to the exchequer of the distribution companies. Later the distribution companies raised the issue with the government.

The deputy chief minister said: “It is clarified that there has been no announcement of giving free electricity up to 300 units. The correct position is that availing up to 300 units of electricity by way of installing rooftop solar under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is part of a new government of India scheme.”

Singh Deo said: “The central government gives a subsidy of ₹78,000 on the installation of a 3KW solar plant on the rooftop. It is capable of producing more than 300 units per month which is highly beneficial to consumers as they can significantly reduce the electricity bill.”