Srinagar, Aug. 24 -- Srinagar- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the government had never promised that power rates would not increase, saying 200 units of free electricity would be implemented through solar scheme. He maintained that the tariff revision had no connection with the scheme.

Speaking to reporters, CM Omar said the government had increased electricity rates by 6.83 per cent after four years, while pointing out that rates had previously been increased by more than 14 per cent during earlier governments and by around 15 per cent four years ago.

"We increased the rates by as little as we could. We are not celebrating the increase in electricity rates. It was a compulsion for us," he said, adding tha...