The Hindu : New Delhi News : Sheila justifies power, water hikes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 23, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Sheila justifies power, water hikes

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MARCH 22. Virtually justifying the sharp increases in water and power charges in the Capital in the recent past, the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, today said that the rates at which water and power were made available to the people of Delhi were the lowest in the country. However, she expressed her Government's willingness to provide support to prevent any further sharp increases in future.

Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the Lieutenant-Governor's address in the Delhi Assembly amid a walkout by the BJP members on the issue of rampant corruption in the Government Departments, the Chief Minister also gave indications of what could be in the offing in the budget to be presented in the Delhi Assembly tomorrow. She indicated that those who had the capacity to spend and pay more would have to shell out more. "It will be a growth-oriented budget and those who can spend more for water, power and various other amenities could be asked to contribute more,'' she added.

The Chief Minister said tomorrow the people of Delhi would come to know the agenda of the Delhi Government and its commitment to provide good governance. Terming the allegations levelled by the opposition BJP as baseless, Ms. Dikshit said they were not in tune with the ground realities and should work more on these aspects.

On the issue of corruption, the Chief Minister said: "We have taken action against anybody who has been found guilty of any wrongdoing. The people should provide documentary proof to the investigating agencies rather than making wild allegations".

She said earlier attempts to rake up the issue had been thrown out by the Lok Ayukta and cited the case of Delhi Jal Board and the complaint against the Congress MLA, Mukesh Sharma, in this respect.

Giving an overall view of the situation in the Capital, she claimed that the water and power situation had improved substantially and privatisation had proved to be a success. "The transmission and distribution losses have come down from a peak of 54 per cent to around 35 per cent. The water supply has gone up from 580 MGD to 680 MGD during the last more than six years. The BSES Rajdhani has brought down losses to 42 per cent and BSES Yamuna has managed to peg them down to 50 per cent. The North Delhi Power Limited has worked its way to bring down the losses to 35 per cent which was a big achievement,'' she remarked.

Ms. Dikshit said her Government had been able to meet the peak power demand that had gone up with each passing year. Defending the recent hikes, she said the water and power charges were still the lowest in the country and the Government intended to set up two more mega power plants in the next two years.

She also asserted once again that the Value Added Tax regime would be in place from April 1 and the Delhi Government had no intention to side with the decision taken by the BJP-led Governments not to go ahead with VAT implementation.

She also announced the intention of her Government to set up a Walled City Development Board to ensure coordinated development and protection of old heritage of the Old Delhi areas.

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