New Delhi

‘Discoms planning huge power tariff hike’

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly V.K. Malhotra on Thursday charged that the three private power distribution companies in Delhi are about to increase the power tariff by 60 per cent in connivance with the Delhi Government.

Addressing a press conference here, he said for increasing the tariff the discoms have sought the permission of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission by submitting a “manipulated” Annual Revenue Report. Terming the possible increase in power tariff “unreasonable and a loot”, Prof. Malhotra said if the power tariff was indeed increased then the BJP will strongly oppose it.

The senior BJP leader said the distribution companies have already increased the power tariff four times. “They are also cheating lakhs of consumers by installing low-grade fast reading electronic meters. It is quite surprising that the Delhi Government which should protect the interests of the people is helping the power companies by acting in an anti-people way and compelling the people to be looted,” he said.

Charging that “four constitutional institutions have alleged connivance between Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and the power companies”, Prof. Malhotra said, “despite this she has kept the Power Department with her so that she may be able to take arbitrary decisions in the interests of power companies.”

Prof. Malhotra also charged that while the power tariff in the posh areas of Delhi was Rs 1.25 per unit from the domestic power consumers, the discoms supply power at the rate of Rs.2.45 per unit to the middle and low income group people in the rest of Delhi. Similarly in the name of fixed charges from the consumers of New Delhi area Rs.2 per kV as additional charge was recovered in the year 2008. The same amount is being recovered at the rate of Rs.12 per kV in the Delhi area since 2005. As this additional amount yields Rs.500 crore each year, he decried this “completely discriminatory behaviour”.

“When the same law related to power is applicable to the entire Delhi and the same regulator looks after them, then why is power being supplied at a lower rate on one side of the road in a particular colony and at higher rates on the other side of the road in a particular colony?” he asked.
Source Hindu