Sheila slams BJP, AAP over power tariff

December 01, 2013 11:59 am | Updated May 26, 2016 09:55 am IST - NEW DELHI:

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit addressing a gathering at South Avenue on Saturday.  Photo: Monica Tiwari

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit addressing a gathering at South Avenue on Saturday. Photo: Monica Tiwari

On a day when the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, slammed the Congress government in Delhi over high power tariff, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit alleged that both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Aam Aadmi Party have been running a vicious campaign on power tariff “with an intention to mislead the people and malign the Congress and its government.”

Asserting that opposition parties are using the power tariff issue as a “missile” to dislodge her government, Ms. Dikshit said: “Both the parties are day dreaming. Their missile will prove to be a failure. Delhi is the only state in the country where reliable, quality and uninterrupted power supply is available round the clock. Power tariff in Delhi is much lower than in other metro cities and NCR towns.”

The Chief Minister also slammed the opposition parties for promising to cut power tariff. “The opposition is making false promises as the tariff cannot be changed or amended by the government. The DERC has the sole right to decide the rates keeping in mind the input cost and other factors,” she said. Ms. Dikshit also highlighted the subsidy being provided by her government to power consumers, varying from 80 paise to Rs 1.20 per unit on monthly consumption of up to 400 units.

“In all, 78 percent of the domestic consumers have been getting relief in their bills. Our power reforms have been most successful in the country. The government saved Rs 30,000 crore with substantial reduction in transmission and distribution losses. The amount was utilised to commission world class infrastructure. Delhi succeeded in generating power within its territory after a gap of 15 years. In order to spare Delhi from long power cuts due to grid failure, the Congress government got a mechanism of islanding to ensure supply even during grid failures,” she said. During her whirlwind tour of the city, Ms Dikshit on Saturday addressed six public meetings in Palam, Vikaspuri, Rajouri Garden, Madipur, Rajender Nagar and Ballimaran assembly segments in support of Congress candidates. Ms. Dikshit was joined by singer Daler Mehndi during the campaigning. With campaigning for the Delhi Assembly elections entering its last lap, Ms. Dikshit also campaigned in her constituency, New Delhi. She took out a road show and flagged off a cycle rally, seeking votes for a fourth consecutive term in the Delhi Assembly.

Addressing the gathering at South Avenue after flagging off the cycle rally, Ms. Dikshit referred to the “all round development in Delhi”over the past 15 years and expressed her commitment to “make Delhi one of the finest cities in the world”.

“The localities are green and clean and are not affected by pollution. Do vote and support the Congress in order to maintain the pace of development,”the Chief Minister said.

Ms. Dikshit also undertook a road show at the B.K. Dutt Colony, covering several lanes and blocks.

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