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Proposal to make power connection a `luxury'

By Lalit K. Jha

NEW DELHI FEB. 7. For lakhs of people living in unauthorised colonies of the Capital, particularly those in the areas managed by the private Discom BSES, having an authorised electricity connection will continue to be a dream if the company has its way.

The company, responsible for distribution of power in two-third of the Capital (South, Central, East and South-West), has in a proposal to the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission sought permission to impose "exorbitant'' developmental charges for unauthorised colonies, which people living here would find it impossible to pay.

As per the proposal, residents would have to pay Rs. 7,500 per kW as developmental charge. Experts say that 5 kW is the average load taken by residents at a time when dependability on electricity and electric gadgets has increased tremendously. Consequently, residents of unauthorised colonies would have to pay Rs. 37,500 for legalising their power connection.

Given the fact that majority of the people living in these unauthorised colonies come from a poor-middle class background, it is unlikely that they would be in a position to pay the amount. As such, power theft would continue unabated in these parts of the Capital.

Curiously enough, Tata Power, the other private distribution company in the Capital, which is responsible for North and North-West Delhi, has proposed for Rs. 4,000 as developmental charges in unauthorised colonies falling under its jurisdiction. And this is applicable for all connections up to 10 kW.

In simple words, an unauthorised colony resident under the BSES area would have to pay Rs. 75,000 for a 10 kW connection as against just Rs. 4,000 under the Tata Power area.

In comparison, the erstwhile Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB) used to impose developmental charges based on the plot size. This on an average was Rs. 120 per sq m. This means that a person having a plot of 50 sq. m. and 100 sq m -- the size of majority plots in unauthorised colonies -- was paying Rs. 6,000 and Rs. 12,000 respectively. But under the proposed BSES regime they would have to pay Rs. 37,500 for 5 kW connection and Rs. 22,500 for 3 kW connection.

What has surprised the power sector experts in the Capital, is that if the Tata Power can provide electricity connection in an unauthorised colonies for bringing the required infrastructure just in Rs. 4,000, why can't the BSES do the same? While the BSES Chief Executive Officer, J.P. Chalasani, was away on a trip to Orissa, none of the other company officials was forthcoming on the issue when asked about the rationale behind such a proposal.

The Chief Executive Officer of the North Delhi Power Limited (of Tata Power), Anil Sardana, said their purpose was to provide electricity at an affordable rate and that it was an economically feasible proposition for them. The DERC has sought the opinion of the public on this issue till February 28.

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