The Hindu : New Delhi News : BJP opposes increase in power rates

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BJP opposes increase in power rates

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Delhi BJP president O.P. Kohli on Saturday asked the Sheila Dikshit Government to provide subsidy to the power companies to insulate consumers from an impending power tariff increase.

Opposing the demand by the power distribution companies to increase tariffs, he said the Government should extend the subsidy if the need arises, but ensure that the tariffs are not increased.

In a statement, Professor Kohli said the three private power discoms wanted to increase the tariff by at least a couple of rupees per unit even as they had earned substantial profits over the years.

“If tariff is increased, power supply in the NDPL area will go up to Rs.3.37 per unit, while in the BRPL area it will go up to Rs.4.37 per unit and in the BYPL area it will be Rs. 4.37 per unit. It will become difficult for the people to pay so much for power.”

He further said with a considerable decrease in power theft in all the distribution areas, there was no reason for hiking tariff. “Rather it calls for lowering of charges.”

“At present people consuming 201 to 400 units pay at the rate of Rs.3.90 per unit and those who consume more than 400 units pay at Rs.4.60 per unit. Even after paying so much, people still face power cuts for up to eight hours a day. It is provided in the privatisation agreement that the private companies will compensate for power cuts.”

He alleged that while discoms sell expensive power to other States, they refrain from buying it at similar rates for Delhi’s consumption.

He accused the power distribution companies of carrying out load-shedding on the pretext of preventing a grid collapse during low frequency, whereas they do so to avoid buying power.

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