The Hindu : Projected power losses fictitious, says Mukhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 30, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Projected power losses fictitious, says Mukhi

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JAN. 29. Accusing the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) of having failed in safeguarding the interests of the people of the Capital, the Leader of Opposition in Delhi Legislative Assembly, Jagdish Mukhi, today alleged that the projected losses shown in the field of power supply for the year 2004-05 were fictitious and aimed at benefiting private power supply companies by hiking tariff.

"The Delhi Government had projected a loss worth Rs.4,527 crores in field of electricity during the financial year 2004-05 out which Transco is expected to incur a loss of Rs.3,945 crores while for the private power supply the figures are - BSES Rs.896 crores and NDPL Rs.686 crores. All these figures are totally fictitious as they want to loot the government money by increasing tariff."

According to Prof. Mukhi, the private power distribution companies had shown the theft cases on a very higher side so that they could "extort" money form the State Government. Moreover, these companies were also busy making grounds for increasing power tariff in the Capital and put extra financial burden on the people. "We will soon meet the Lieutenant-Governor, Vijai Kapoor, to apprise him about all the bungling going on in the name of reforming the Capital's ailing power sector and the capitalist approach of these organisations. We will request him to urgently initiate appropriate action in this regard."

"Delhiites are already fed up from the fast running of electricity meters and now they want the people to shell out more without any credible improvement in the supply and quality of power. The Bharatiya Janata Party will not allow the dictatorial attitude of the private power distribution companies to work in the Capital," he warned.

Mr. Mukhi also lambasted DERC for being a mute spectator on the entire issue and not doing anything to safeguard the rights of the people. Alleging that DERC had completely failed in its objective, Prof. Mukhi demanded that the Commission's structure should be immediately revamped and should be made a multi-member body instead of a single-member Commission.

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