The Hindu : New Delhi News : Govt. ready to take action against discoms: Minister

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Saturday, Sep 24, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Govt. ready to take action against discoms: Minister

Staff Reporter

`We are here to protect the interests of the people'

NEW DELHI: Stating that the Delhi Government was sensitive to the sentiments of the people and would respond accordingly in any such situation, Power Minister Haroon Yusuf on Friday warned that if the private power distribution companies were found faulting or harassing consumers, the Government would not hesitate to take strong action against them. "We are here to protect the interests of the people and not any company or individual," he said in the Delhi Assembly.

Replying to the debate on a resolution moved by Ramvir Singh Bidhuri (NCP) on replacing fast-running electronic meters amid a walkout by the BJP members, Mr. Yusuf said the Government was employing the services of independent agencies and the Central Government departments for carrying out testing of meters in view of the rise in the number of complaints against fast meters. "If any member can point out any case to me, I am ready to accompany him and test the meters according to the laid down norms," he asserted.

Mr. Yusuf said the Government's priority was the interest of consumers and not that of the companies and it was wrong to say that it was advocating the cause of discoms.

Mr. Yusuf also assured the House that consumers could purchase meters from the open market and they would not be forced to install any particular meter. "If any kind of shortcoming is found in testing of meters it would be taken care of immediately. There is no question of siding with the discoms." Earlier, senior Congress leader and Kalkaji MLA Subhash Chopra created a flutter in the House when he revealed that he had got a report of the private company North Delhi Power Limited (NDPL) that indicated that of the 400 inspections of meters carried out by the discom, 298 meters were found to be running fast recording high consumption and bills. This had all the members including the Opposition on their feet demanding why the Government took no action. Mr. Yusuf responded by stating that it was not a meter testing report but an average reading of the consumption pattern of various consumers.

"I am ready to resign from my Assembly seat in the interest of the people but will never allow these companies to loot the consumers," Mr. Chopra retorted.

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