Chandigarh, July 1 -- In some relief for the fund-strapped Chandigarh municipal corporation (MC), the UT administration on Monday approved a 6 paise per unit hike in electricity tax/cess, which will now mean an increased power bill for city residents.

The proposal, initially withdrawn by former AAP mayor Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor in November last year, was recently greenlit by the BJP-led House in March, with minimal objections from both ruling and Opposition parties.

In a letter addressed to the UT administration, MC officials had in April outlined the necessity of the hike. "During weekly meetings to review the financial position of the MC, emphasis was laid on enhancing internally generated revenue and curtailing unnecessary expenditures ...