Close X
Tuesday, November 26, 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

    AAP Confident, BJP Hopeful, Congress Despondent Post Election

    AAP Confident, BJP Hopeful, Congress Despondent Post Election
    A day after exit polls predicted an AAP win in Delhi, its visibly relaxed leader Arvind Kejriwal Sunday watched a Hindi movie as the BJP insisted it was still confident of winning the election with wider national ramifications.

    AAP Confident, BJP Hopeful, Congress Despondent Post Election

    Modi Asks States To Work In Tandem With Centre

    Modi Asks States To Work In Tandem With Centre
    Emphasising on the need to empower the states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday called upon states to forge a model of "cooperative federalism" to resolve differences even as he flagged poverty as India's biggest challenge.

    Modi Asks States To Work In Tandem With Centre

    Manjhi meets Modi, rules out quitting; Nitish to parade MLAs

    Manjhi meets Modi, rules out quitting; Nitish to parade MLAs
    The crisis in Bihar's ruling JD-U deepened further Sunday, as a defiant Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi asserted he will not resign, while the rival camp led by Nitish Kumar decided to parade legislators at Raj Bhavan Monday and stake claim to power.

    Manjhi meets Modi, rules out quitting; Nitish to parade MLAs

    Invisible Planes Next On India's Defence Research Organisation's Radar, Thanks To Sage Bharadwaj

    Invisible Planes Next On India's Defence Research Organisation's Radar, Thanks To Sage Bharadwaj
    India's premier defence research organisation DRDO is open to co-developing a technology promoted by an Indian scientist who claims he can make planes invisible using pre-Mahabharata sage Bharadwaj's formulae

    Invisible Planes Next On India's Defence Research Organisation's Radar, Thanks To Sage Bharadwaj

    Mauritian Ex-PM Navin Ramgoolam Arrested, Gets Bail

    Mauritian Ex-PM Navin Ramgoolam Arrested, Gets Bail
    Former Mauritius prime minister Navin Ramgoolam, who was arrested for involvement in cases of conspiracy and money laundering, was set to be released on bail later Saturday following a decision of the court after a bail motion was heard the same day.

    Mauritian Ex-PM Navin Ramgoolam Arrested, Gets Bail

    JD-U Crisis: Manjhi Wants House Dissolved, Nitish To Stake Claim Sunday

    JD-U Crisis: Manjhi Wants House Dissolved, Nitish To Stake Claim Sunday
    Bihar's ruling JD-U seemed to be on the verge of a split Saturday, as Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi sought dissolution of the assembly despite opposition from a majority of his cabinet even as his predecessor Nitish Kumar was re-elected legislature party chief

    JD-U Crisis: Manjhi Wants House Dissolved, Nitish To Stake Claim Sunday