New Delhi: Fulfilling yet another major poll promise, the Aam Aadmi Party government on Tuesday gave a new year gift to the people of Delhi, announcing a 50 per cent subsidy on power consumption of up to 400 units, and appears all set to order a CAG audit of three private power distribution companies.
A day after implementing the first promise of free water supply of 667 litres a day, a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal got down to the business of providing relief to the citizens on the power front.
However, the rider here — like in the decision on free water yesterday — was that consumption above 400 units would attract full charges from zero base.
The Chief Minister said the burden on account of enlarging the subsidy will be Rs 200 crore for the next three months, although the cash outgo will be Rs 61 crore and the rest will be a book adjustment.
After Tuesday's decision, which will come into effect from Wednesday (January 1,2014) for three months, people consuming up to 200 units would have to pay Rs 1.95 per unit against the current rate of Rs 2.70. For units above 201 and up to 400, the charges will be Rs 2.90 per unit against the current Rs 5.
In effect, the 50 per cent subsidy will amount to 20 per cent in the case of the first 200 units and around 35 per cent for consumption between 201 and 400 units since today's decision is applicable on rates revised in August last.
The previous Sheila Dikshit government had given Rs 1.20 subsidy on the rates for consumption of up to 200 units and 80 paise between 201 and 400 units.
Simultaneously, Kejriwal also began work on bringing the three power distribution companies — BSES Yamuna Power Ltd, BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd — under the purview of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
Read more: Delhi government may go for CAG audit of private power companies
Brushing aside the doctor's advice, Kejriwal drove to the CAG office in Central Delhi and met incumbent Shashi Kant Sharma, who he said was ready for the job of auditing the three companies.
The Chief Minister said the companies had been given time till tomorrow morning as required under the law for an opportunity of being heard as to why they should not be audited.
"The Cabinet will meet tomorrow and, after going through their replies, we will decide whether or not to audit," he told the media after the Cabinet meeting.
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Slashing of power charges and auditing the finances of power distribution companies were among the major promises made by AAP during its election campaign. Kejriwal said that today's Cabinet decision would provide relief to more than 28 lakh out of a total of 34.61 lakh power consumers in Delhi.
The Chief Minister said that the government will pay Rs 61 crore to TPDDL while the remaining Rs 139 crore would be adjusted against the outstanding dues of over Rs 4,000 crore of BSES discoms to power companies of Delhi government.
The government will review the power tariff issue after the audit of the discoms is completed. "Further decision on power tariff will be taken after receiving the audit report. There are chances that we may not need to give any subsidy," he said.
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The Chief Minister said the subsidy amount payable to BSES discoms will be paid to the government-run power generation companies to which the BSES discoms owe over Rs 4,000 crore.
He said that the government will achieve two objectives with one decision — lowering of tariff as well as securing the pending dues of Pragati Power Corporation Ltd, Delhi Transco Ltd and Indraprastha Power Generation Co Ltd.
The DERC had announced a 5 per cent hike in tariff in July, fixing Rs 3.90 for first 200 units and Rs 5.80 for consumption between 201 and 400 units. For consumption between 401 units and 800 units, the rate was fixed at Rs 6.80 per unit and, for consumption beyond 800 units, the per unit rate was fixed at Rs 7.
Next: Congress takes potshots at Kejriwal
Congress takes potshots at Kejriwal
New Delhi: Congress on Tuesday took potshots at Arvind Kejriwal for his statement that he was running the government assuming that his party has just 48 hours, wondering whether Aam Admi Party MLAs are deserting the party.
"I do not know whether some of his partymen are leaving. This information is not with us. BJP cannot ensure the fall of AAP government. They do not have the numbers for this. Congress has announced support for them (AAP)and we have not made any change in that decision.
"We have already decided to give our MLA for protem Speaker as they demanded. So naturally, Congress does not want the government to fall and BJP cannot do it even if it wants. If some MLAs from Kejriwal's party are deserting it, we have no information. Only Kejriwal will have that information," AICC general secretary in charge for Delhi Shakeel Ahmed said.
Ahead of the trust vote on January 2, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said he wants to do maximum good for the people in the next 48 hours whether his government stays or not.
"Not sure of Congress and BJP. We are not bothered whether the government survives or not. We are running the government assuming that we have just 48 hours with us. We want to do the maximum good to the people, if we can in this time," he told reporters.
Congress leader Ahmed ridiculed these remarks of Kejriwal but weclomed the decisions on tariff cut in power and water by AAP government.
"These were the committments that they had made and hence should be fulfilled. Announcements are being made. Let the announcements be implemented and it will be clear in four-six months whether people of Delhi benefit or not. If they bring benefits to people, it should be welcomed," he said.
The Aam Aadmi government today announced a 50 per cent subsidy on power consumption upto 400 units in Delhi. The cut in the electricity tariff came a day after Kejriwal announced supply of 20 kilolitres of water free of cost. Both were key election promises by AAP.
