NEW DELHI: Fulfilling one of its poll promises, the AAP Government in the national capital on Wednesday slashed power consumption tariffs by 50 per cent for households consuming upto 400 units per month and completely waived water and sewerage charges upto 20,000 litres per household per month, starting from March 1.
While announcing the much-hyped freebies, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said: “People trusted our party and voted for us. Now, we have to fulfil the promises that we had made to them.”
He said their government had provided the much-needed relief in electricity and water bills last year also, when it was in office for 49 days, but unfortunately this relief was withdrawn by the central government, which controlled Delhi during the year-long President’s rule. “We don’t know why both the Congress and the BJP were unable to continue the decision we took when we were in government for 49 days,” Sisodia said.
He pointed out that the Delhi Cabinet had approved a flat 50 per cent relief in the electricity bills upto 400 units for domestic consumers. “This will cost Rs 70 crore for the month of March,” said the Deputy CM. Domestic users, consuming upto 400 units, will get a relief of 50 per cent in their bills irrespective of any slab.
He also said that 36.06 lakh families, that is 90 per cent of the domestic consumers of Delhi, will benefit in electricity bills. “The Cabinet has approved an estimated amount of Rs 1,427 crore for the next financial year to provide relief in electricity bills for the residents of Delhi,” said Sisodia, the close aide of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
He pointed out that the relief in electricity bills would be provided to domestic consumers till the Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s audit of private power discoms was completed.