The Opposition on Wednesday criticised the Delhi government for failing to provide funds for electrification of unauthorised and recently regularised colonies. It also blamed the government for not giving land to distribution companies for putting up grid and sub-stations.
Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta said more than one-thirds of Delhi’s population or 50 lakh people have been denied their legitimate right to have uninterrupted supply of electricity.
“Due to lethargy on the part of the Delhi government, lakhs of families are compelled to lead a miserable life. The discoms have repeatedly requested the government to provide their share of funds for electrification of these areas along with land for putting up necessary electrical infrastructure/transformers as required. But the government has so far not paid any heed,” he said.
The BJP MLA from Rohini further pointed out that the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission vide its letter dated August 29, 2013, had directed discoms not to put the burden of electrification cost in unauthorised colonies on consumers. This expenditure has to be shared by Delhi Government and the power utilities, he added.
At the same time, power utilities have stressed that the delay has resulted in overloading of existing network of adjoining areas and it is difficult to provide any new connections as also to ensure power reliability in nearby areas. Tata Power, which supplies power in North Delhi, has pointed out that it had no choice but to refuse a new connection to 3,874 people on account of these issues. “Discoms have been constantly pursuing the Delhi government that they need land for construction of grid stations, distribution sub-stations, etc., to enable it to lay down electricity network. But the Delhi government has proved a total failure even in providing land,” said Mr Gupta.
