Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal has blamed the Aam Aadmi Party government for the delays in completion of Delhi’s power projects.
The Minister said that the Central government had allocated projects worth Rs. 7,700 crore to improve the power situation in the Capital, but rued that the Delhi government was not cooperating.
Special funds for Delhi
“In the budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in July, no State or Union Territory got special allocation for power. But, funds worth Rs. 200 crore were allocated only to Delhi. Accordingly, the Power Ministry had mapped several sub-stations to be built, but none have been completed,” Mr. Goyal said while speaking at the ‘Vikas Parv’ organised to celebrate two years of the Modi government at Chandni Chowk’s Town Hall.
The project involved the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), wherein it was supposed to construct four 400/220 KV power sub-stations — each of 2000 MVA capacity — at Rajghat, Tughlakabad, Dwarka and Karampura. But according to the Minister, the Delhi government was using delaying tactics by either not allotting land or simply demanding non-interference from the Power Ministry .
“I offered help in several meetings, but they (AAP government) never accepted it. Instead, they suggested that we (the Power Ministry) should not interfere. Even now, I urge the Delhi government to discuss an action plan for next year,” Mr. Goyal added.
Need to improve network
Recalling the time when a storm on May 30, 2014, had led the entire power network in the Capital to collapse, Mr. Goyal emphasised on the need to strengthen transmission network in the city.
About the Modi government’s flagship LED bulb scheme, the Union Minister said that there had been an increase of almost 80 per cent in the sale of LED bulbs through government companies.
“In 2014, when the government came to power, only six lakh LED bulbs were sold per year. Now, six lakh bulbs are sold by government companies on a daily basis. Back then, a 7-watt LED bulb would cost Rs. 310, which has now come down to Rs. 55 for a 9-watt bulb. The savings account for Rs. 40,000 crore,” he informed.
Piyush Goyal said
the AAP was delaying the completion of power projects in
the Capital
