The Hindu : New Delhi News : BJP for penalty on discoms

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Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008
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New Delhi

BJP for penalty on discoms

Staff Reporter

For violating terms of agreement

“Selling power meant for people to industries”
“Still resorting to heavy load-shedding in Delhi”

NEW DELHI: Accusing the Capital’s private power distribution companies of violating the terms of the power agreement by selling power meant for the people to private industries at a higher price, Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday demanded that heavy penalties be imposed on them as a punitive action.

The BJP leader said the discoms were still resorting to heavy load-shedding in Delhi. He said while they argue that this was being done because sufficient power was not being made available, the fact was that these companies were actually lying about the whole matter as they were earning huge profits by selling power meant for Delhi to other States.

Dr. Vardhan said now these companies had even announced, in violation of the terms of privatisation, that those paying higher rates would be supplied power round the clock. “Private power company NDPL has started supplying 24 hours power to a soft drink company by charging 50 paise more per unit,” he alleged.

Noting that there was no provision for supplying 24-hour power to industries after charging a higher tariff in the privatisation agreement, Dr. Vardhan said this was not justified as people in jhuggi-jhonpri colonies, unauthorised colonies and slums were being made to go without power for over 12 hours a day during the current severe cold weather.

He said while the Delhi Government and the power companies were complaining about shortage of power, by selling power to industries at a higher rate and in violation of the terms of agreement they had shown that more than social welfare they were concerned about earning money. He warned that if the discoms were not stopped from this, the BJP would launch an agitation.

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