Close on the heels of announcing a 50 per cent reduction in power tariff for the households consuming 400 units per month, the Aam Aadmi Party-led government here on Thursday decided to release a white paper on the status of the power sector in the Capital. The white paper is expected to cover the period of the past 10 to 12 years.
Announcing the decision at a press conference here, Delhi Power Minister Satyendra Jain said the white paper, to be prepared in three months, would cover aspects such as stipulations in the earlier power purchase agreements, compliance with norms, privatisation of power supply, transmission and distribution of losses and theft of power.
A one-man committee comprising former Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) chairperson Berjinder Singh will look into various aspects of the power sector and submit the white paper to the State Government.
“We will put in the public domain all the relevant facts about privatisation of electricity distribution in Delhi. The committee will consider whether the specific purpose for which privatisation was done has been achieved during the past 13 years,” said Mr. Jain, adding that the white paper would be tabled in the State Assembly.
The committee would be free to associate with experts from the energy sector, policy makers and public representatives in process of drafting the white paper, said the Minister.
Through the white paper, the State Government also proposes to make public the real situation of electricity generation, transmission and distribution which has been inherited by it. “Residents of the Capital have a right to know about the real situation of the power sector and the impacts of power sector reforms carried out so far,” said Mr. Jain.
Mr. Jain said the Comptroller and Auditor General’s audit of the accounts of power discoms was a separate issue that may not be dealt with by the white paper. The discoms had already taken the matter to the Delhi High Court, where it was sub judice, he said.
Denying that the AAP-led government’s intention was to prepare a “political report” in the garb of a white paper, Mr. Jain said the ruling party did not want to accuse any of the previous governments. “Since a 55 per cent reduction in transmission losses was promised at the time of privatisation, people have a right to know about the situation at the grassroots now.”
“Let us not pre-judge anything. Though no inference can be drawn in advance, we expect the white paper to give the right direction to the Capital’s power sector,” said Mr. Jain.
The Principal Secretary (Power) will provide all the necessary administrative, secretarial and logistical assistance to Mr. Singh and supply all documents which may be required for the preparation of white paper.
The white paper will cover the past 10 to 12 years. Through it the Delhi Government proposes to make public the real situation of electricity generation, transmission and distribution which it has inherited.
