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‘Water, power subsidies for tenants if AAP wins’

April 03, 2017 01:03 am | Updated 01:03 am IST - NEW DELHI

Promise follows proposal to do away with house tax

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday that his government would extend power and water subsidies to tenants, if voted to power in the municipal elections.

In a tweet, which was targeted towards people living in rented accommodations in the city, Mr. Kejriwal said these benefits don’t reach tenants now, but his government would extend it to them after the polls.

“The benefits of power and water subsidies in Delhi don’t reach tenants. After the civic elections, we will make sure that the schemes reach them,” Mr. Kejriwal tweeted on Sunday morning.

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The AAP’s focus for the civic campaigns is issue-based, said sources in the party. After declaring that it would do away with house tax for all residential properties if it comes to power, this is the second largest promise the party has announced to win over the three corporations.

Problem of average rates

Party sources added that this problem surfaced constantly at

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mohalla sabhas. People living in rented flats were denied power and water subsidies, with an average rate charged by owners.

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“This problem is prevalent mostly in the rural belts and unauthorised colonies. Owners of flats benefit from subsidies, but these subsidies don’t reach the tenants,” said a source. The number of such tenants runs into thousands, an AAP leader said.

Soon after coming to power in Delhi in 2015, the AAP-led government had provided 50% subsidy to households consuming up to 400 units of electricity per month. They also provided free water up to 20,000 litres.

“In many unauthorised colonies, there are no separate meters for flats. Sub-meters are branched out from the main meter, which is often installed at the owner’s house. Tenants have to pay an average cost even if they haven’t used that many units of electricity,” sources said.

The voting for 272 municipal wards will be held on April 23, with results to be announced on April 26.

The AAP, which suffered a blow in the recent Punjab elections when it finished second, is keen to put the defeat behind it by repeating its performance of the 2015 Assembly elections. Senior leaders, along with Mr. Kejriwal, are now addressing public meetings and roadshows almost everyday to gather support.

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