Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal gave Delhiites a perfect New Year gift by slashing electricity charges and promising further revision of power tariffs.
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- Category: Delhi political News
- Last Updated: Thursday, 22 January 2015 20:52
Kejriwal’s new year gift to Delhiites: 50% power subsidy in lower slabs
The Aam Aadmi Party government on Tuesday announced a 50 per cent subsidy on power consumption up to 400 units on the existing Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) rates in Delhi.
The subsidy announced by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is includes that announced by the previous government in August for consumers using power in the slab of 0-200 and 201-400 units per month.
With the new rates — which comes into effect from January 1, 2014, and would be in vogue till the end of the current financial year, — households consuming power up to 200 units would now pay Rs.1.95 against the existing rate of Rs.3.90. Similarly, the consumers would have to pay at the rate of Rs.2.90 per unit against the existing Rs.5.80 for the 201-400 unit slab.
After the subsidy announced by the Sheila Dikshit government, consumers were paying Rs.2.70 per unit for the first 200 units.
From 201 to 400 units, they were being charged Rs.4.80 per unit.
As per the Tuesday’s Cabinet decision, no subsidy would be given to domestic consumers on power consumption above 400 units.
Mr. Kejriwal also met the Comptroller and Auditor General on Tuesday, requesting the top auditor to order an audit into the finances of the three private power distribution companies in the Capital.-'THE HINDU'
“We have given notice to power companies for audit,” the Chief Minister said, adding, “Power companies have been asked to send their reply on why there shouldn't be an audit by tomorrow.”
After the AAP government delivered on its promise of supplying 700 litres of free water everyday for Delhi households, expectations were running high whether the ruling party would be able to deliver on its promise of reducing the power tariff by 50 percent in the national capital.
Kejriwal had on Monday delivered on the AAP's poll promise by announcing 20 kilo litres of free water a month to all metered households. The Congress, however, questioned the move, saying Kejriwal should ensure that every citizen of Delhi gets 700 litres of free water per day.
The government's decision, however, came with a rider that those consuming over this limit will have to pay as per tariff, enhanced by 10 percent, effective January 1.
The promise of 700 litres of free water to every Delhi household was made in the AAP poll manifesto.
Ever since Kejriwal formed AAP, he has been focusing his Delhi campaign on reducing power tariff and free water supply. Electricity tariffs were revised in the Capital in July this year. Delhiites pay a minimum of Rs 3.90 per unit tariff.
AAP has said that it would seek complete statehood for Delhi, special audit of all electricity companies, regularisation of unauthorised colonies, stopping donations in private schools and improving working conditions of contract labour and lowly paid employees.According to "ZeeNews"