New Delhi   

BJP asks CBI to raid discoms' offices

Staff Reporter

Discrepancies in the accounts of the power companies alleged

NEW DELHI: Claiming that there had been bungling to the tune of crores of rupees in privatisation of power in Delhi, BJP Pradesh president Harsh Vardhan has demanded that the Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Uma Shankar Mishra, raid all the offices of the three power companies in Delhi and seize the records and computers and get them examined.

Appreciating the sudden raids by the CBI at 198 places in 54 cities across the country, Dr. Vardhan said there were great discrepancies in the accounts of the power companies of Delhi. And as the guards of the private companies do not allow any member of the public to enter any public utility or billing centre of these companies, he said the companies were not even listening to consumers'complaints.

Stating that consumers were persuaded to leave the office from outside, Dr. Vardhan said in this situation people were not able to lodge their complaints regarding inflated bills, fast running meters, illegal connections, bribes being demanded by the company employees, changing the transformers and load-shedding.

Lamenting that consumers were being compelled to pay inflated bills before they were heard, he said even in the office of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission the consumers were not being heard.

"In order to realise the gravity of the situation, the CBI Director only needs to call up any of the helpline numbers being advertised by the three power companies for lodging complaints. The computer only tells you that everything is fine even if there is something seriously wrong."

Describing the ongoing meter testing campaign as a "fraud'', he said if the Government really wanted to provide relief to the consumers then it should take the monthly average of the period during which mechanical meters were installed and after that take the monthly average after the installation of electronic meters. The difference between the two should be refunded to the consumers with three years' interest.

The BJP leader also criticised the new orders of the DERC in which it had been said that if the consumers go out after closing the house then they should deposit the average amount in advance and this should be not less then Rs 5,000 or else their power supply will be disconnected. Dr. Vardhan wondered how there would be any consumption of power if the house was closed and why the consumers were being asked to deposit average bills.

"The DERC order only serves the interests of the power companies and has exposed its anti-consumer character."

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

Stories in this Section

Government accused of tarnishing party image
New bus service launched
Bid to bring India, Pakistan closer
A saga of melodious musical notes
10 Old Age Homes planned
High Court directive to Deoli farmers
Six new dengue cases reported
An unforgettable Gandhi
Prostitution racket busted
Woman died in accident: DDA
BJP asks CBI to raid discoms' offices
Allow us to pay average bills, say residents
Around the City
Briefly
In the Capital Today

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu