The Hindu : New Delhi News : High drama at CM's office over power rates

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 22, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

High drama at CM's office over power rates

Staff Reporter

Sheila in a power bind; protest reaches her doorstep

NEW DELHI: The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party legislators held a vociferous demonstration at the Delhi Secretariat on Thursday to protest against the increase in power tariff in the Capital, the alleged irregularities by the power distribution companies and the Delhi Government's deliberate neglect of these issues. All the 20 MLAs, led by Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Jagdish Mukhi, and including Delhi BJP president, Harsh Vardhan, later met the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, and submitted a memorandum.

The Chief Minister is learnt to have assured the BJP legislators that she would look into their demands and has sought 15 days to spell out a plan of action.

During the sit-in demonstration at Delhi Secretariat, the BJP MLAs demanded withdrawal of the increase in power tariff and check on the arbitrariness of the power companies. In the memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister, they warned that if the increase in power tariff -- the third under the Congress Government -- was not withdrawn, then BJP will be compelled to protest more aggressively.

The memorandum says that "the glaring example of how these distribution companies manipulate the figures is evident from the fact that one company is charging three times more amount than the other company for installation of sodium vapour streetlights."

Also, the power distribution companies have been laying four to five cables for improvement in electricity supply whereas only one cable could serve the purpose. And despite 6,000 employees opting for voluntary retirement, their pay bills are higher than before.

The party also criticised the decision of the companies to charge 30 per cent more from those consumers who are consuming more than the sanctioned load. It also accused DERC of favouring the power distribution companies at the cost of the consumers and claimed that the tariff at the lowest level has gone up by over 60 per cent since privatisation.

During the meeting with the Chief Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan told her that Delhiites were being harassed due to the alleged loot, arbitrariness and connivance between the Government, Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission and the private power companies.

The Special Energy Secretary, Arun Goel, has in a letter demanded that the DERC should check the loot and arbitrariness of the private power companies and get the meters tested. Mr. Harsh Vardhan asked the Chief Minister to pass an order to cancel the long-term agreement between the power companies and the Delhi Government. He also sought a high level probe into their activities and performance. He said the Delhi Government should enter into a new agreement with the power companies in such a way that the power companies should not be able to exploit the general public and remain fully accountable to the consumers.

The BJP leader said the new agreement should impose heavy penalty on the power companies if they do not remove the complaints in time and in case they are found submitting forged bills.

The Chief Minister assured the BJP legislators that she would consider all the demands regarding power and withdrawal of the increase in power tariff and will take a decision on the matter within 15 days.

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