NEW DELHI: Displaying the first signs of a civil disobedience movement against the Delhi Government, residents' welfare associations in the city have begun deducting the controversial amount of 10 per cent increase in their latest power bills before depositing them with the power companies in protest against what they call an "unjustified hike''.

Taking the lead in this movement are the RWAs of Old Rajendra Nagar and New Rajindra Nagar who are busy collecting power bills from the residents and then depositing the same with the power companies after deducting the 10 per cent hike that came into force from July 15. As August 20 is the first billing cycle date for this month, the residents have started getting their first bills after the hike was announced and in the next few days all consumers in the Capital would be served bills with the additional 10 per cent increase. However, with the various RWAs, non-government organisations, People's Action and the Campaign Against Power Tariff Hike, deciding not to pay the extra hike, the stage has been set for a clash among the power consumers, the Government and the private power companies who are threatening to disconnect the power connections of those who fail to pay the total bill.

At a public meeting called by Old Rajendra Nagar RWA, residents handed over their bills after deducting 10 per cent from the total amount. "As it is just the beginning of the billing cycle, we received 88 bills on Wednesday and paid the same to the private power companies after receiving an assurance that receipts for the same would be issued to us on Thursday. We got an additional 40 bills on Thursday and the residents are also depositing such bills on their own ,'' said R.L. Dua, president of the Old Rajinder Nagar RWA.

D.M. Narang of the New Rajendra Nagar RWA said instructions had been issued to all the residents to pay directly since BSES had accepted payments and were issuing receipts against the received amounts. The movement is not only limited to this part of the Capital, several RWAs in Rohini and Shakti Nagar are also doing the same.

The Mayur Vihar-II RWA has also written to all senior members of the administration including the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, informing them of their decision to deduct 10 per cent from their bills.

However, the power companies have warned of stern action. "It is for the DERC and the Delhi Government to sort out the mess. We will disconnect those connections where full payment has not been made,'' a senior official remarked.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail