Close X
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
ADVT 
India

AAP keeps poll promise; halves power tariff, gives free water

Darpan News Desk IANS, 25 Feb, 2015 11:24 AM
    The AAP government Wednesday halved the power tariff for up to 400 units per month and said it would supply 20,000 litres of water free to Delhi's metered households from March 1 - keeping its two big-ticket poll promises.
     
    While the cut in electricity rates through subsidy will benefit over 36 lakh families - 90 percent of the domestic consumers - the free water will be provided to all the 18 lakh metered households in the capital, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told reporters.
     
    He said after a cabinet meeting here that the power subsidy would cost the exchequer Rs.1,427 crore annually, while the free water would cost of Rs.250 crore.
     
    A consumer will have to pay Rs.2 per unit for up to 200 units a month, in comparison to the Rs.4 per unit at present, which has a subsidy of Rs.1.20 per unit.
     
    For those consuming between 200-400 units, the cost would be down from Rs.5.95 per unit to Rs.2.97. In this slab too, there is an existing subsidy of 80 paise - announced by the central government in last year's budget.
     
    However, there is a rider. The consumer will be charged full rates from zero base if the electricity consumption crosses 400 units. 
     
    This also applies to the free water consumption.
     
    "The relief in electricity bills will be provided to domestic consumers till the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) audit of private power distribution companies (discoms) is completed," a government statement said.
     
    During its last stint of 49 days in Delhi in 2013-2014, the Arvind Kejriwal-led government had cut power rates by 50 percent and made 667 litres of water per day for all metered households free. The Aam Aadmi Party had highlighted these two populist measures during its campaign in the run up to the Feb 7 Delhi elections.
     
    "The reduction in power tariff will benefit 36,06,428 families, which is around 90 percent of the domestic consumers," Sisodia said.
     
    "The people gave us an unprecedented mandate in the election. Like last time, we will do what we say. We want the burden of paying huge electricity bills off the common man's shoulder," he added.
     
    Sisodia said the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has been directed to speed up the process of setting up infrastructure to provide free water to colonies which do not have pipelines. 
     
    The group housing societies will also get the benefit of free water.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Meet Nirmal Singh, The Man Who Actually Towed Indira Gandhi's Car

    Meet Nirmal Singh, The Man Who Actually Towed Indira Gandhi's Car
    Kiran Bedi, the first woman IPS officer of India who bagged praise for her tough demeanor and participation in the revolutionary movement of the Jan Lokpal bill under Anna Hazare’s vision, is receiving flak for an incident dating back to 1982. 

    Meet Nirmal Singh, The Man Who Actually Towed Indira Gandhi's Car

    Indian Black Money Abroad: 350 Accounts Assessed, 60 Cases Filed

    Indian Black Money Abroad: 350 Accounts Assessed, 60 Cases Filed
    The central government has completed assessment of 350 foreign accounts while tax-evasion proceedings have been initiated against 60 account holders as part of its crackdown on black money, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said Monday.

    Indian Black Money Abroad: 350 Accounts Assessed, 60 Cases Filed

    Expelled from JD-U, Manjhi seeks floor test; Nitish stakes claim

    Expelled from JD-U, Manjhi seeks floor test; Nitish stakes claim
    Battle lines were clearly drawn in Bihar Monday as Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, expelled from the ruling JD-U, sought to prove his majority on the floor of the assembly even as his predecessor Nitish Kumar staked claim to form the government and accused Manjhi of "horse-trading".

    Expelled from JD-U, Manjhi seeks floor test; Nitish stakes claim

    Indian Catholic Priests Find Growing Role In The West

    Indian Catholic Priests Find Growing Role In The West
    The tide has turned so much so that today a growing number of Catholic priests from India travel to, stay on and settle in the United States to minister to the needs of the faithful there.

    Indian Catholic Priests Find Growing Role In The West

    Horrific Rape Of A Mentally-Challenged Woman In Rohtak Shocks India

    Horrific Rape Of A Mentally-Challenged Woman In Rohtak Shocks India
    Protests erupted in Haryana's Rohtak town Sunday after details emerged of the barbaric manner in which a mentally-challenged Nepali woman was raped and murdered and how Haryana Police and the state government failed to show any action being taken.

    Horrific Rape Of A Mentally-Challenged Woman In Rohtak Shocks India

    Man Burnt Alive As Car Catches Fire After Collision In Delhi

    Man Burnt Alive As Car Catches Fire After Collision In Delhi
    A 32-year-old man was burnt alive inside his car which caught fire after ramming into another car, police said Sunday.

    Man Burnt Alive As Car Catches Fire After Collision In Delhi