The Hindu : New Delhi News : No end to tussle over upkeep of streetlights

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 07, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

No end to tussle over upkeep of streetlights

Staff Reporter

"The longstanding issue in the Capital between MCD, discoms to be settled by the DERC"

NEW DELHI: The longstanding tussle between the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Capital's power distribution companies over sharing of electricity tax has been resolved, but the standoff over who will foot the bill for maintenance of streetlights in the city continues.

Following arbitration by Delhi Transco Limited it has been decided that the issue of who will pay for the consumables will be put before the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC).

The MCD, which claims that the distribution companies BRL and BYPL together owe a whopping Rs. 120 crore as outstanding electricity tax dues, is reluctant to foot the expenses incurred on maintenance of streetlights.

Addressing media persons here, MCD Standing Committee chairman Vijender Gupta said: "The discoms want the MCD to pay for consumables like lamps and maintenance of streetlights, but the civic body is already paying for the power consumption and is unwilling to pay more. Therefore this issue will now be settled by the DERC."

Pointing out that the MCD is currently paying Rs. 73 per pole per month to the discoms and Rs. 4.60 per unit as electricity charges, Mr. Gupta said the Corporation and the discoms would, however, work together to ensure that all the streetlights are functional.

"At present there is a sample check that is conducted. We have now decided to conduct a monthly inspection. There will be 272 teams constituted ward-wise, which will have a local Councillor, an official of the MCD, and discom representatives," Mr. Gupta said.

"The inspection team has been briefed to check each streetlight pole and draw a report of all the non-functional ones. Based on this status report and the power consumed, the discoms will be paid," he added.

Claiming that at present about 90 per cent of the streetlights in the city are functional, the Standing Committee chairman said the discoms had been asked to ensure that all streetlights become functional in the next 60 days.

The MCD will also attach with the discoms an audit team that will examine the total electricity tax collected and ascertain the share that the Corporation is entitled to.

"A four-member committee has also been constituted to settle the issue of outstanding payments. Both the BYPL and the BRPL owe the Corporation Rs. 82 crore and Rs. 20 crore for the past and the current financial years respectively.

For resolving this issue, the committee, which has members from the MCD as well as the dicoms, will meet and present their report to the Principal Secretary Power in 10 days," Mr. Gupta said.

"Delhi Transco," he added, "has already approved the plan for installing new streetlights in the city. We will cover 900 km before the 2010 Commonwealth Games. An expenditure of Rs. 225 crore will be incurred and the Delhi Transco has already sanctioned Rs. 25 crore."

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