Centre plans 30% cut in Delhi’s power tariff rates
8 July 2014 5:35 AM IST
The union budget to be presented by finance minister Arun Jaitley is going to come with a bagful of goodies for the national Capital, which is currently under LG’s rule. According to well-placed sources, the government has decided to keep the promise of allowing a 30 percent rollback in power prices, as promised in the manifesto of the last assembly elections.
The AAP government, which had come to power following the assembly polls, had announced a 50 percent rollback on power prices but it had to be withdrawn after three months as no provision for the same was made in the budget to subsidise the same. Sources said Jaitley has planned a Rs 600 crore subsidy to ensure 30 percent rollback in the tariff. Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung has already asked the power department to move a proposal for Rs 600 crore to reintroduce subsidy.
The proposal has been sent to the Centre for approval, Delhi finance department sources said.
Power Department sources said that the proposal is on pattern of subsidy provided earlier by the Congress regime, creating two slabs for power consumers – up to 200 units and up to 400 units.
Arvind Kejriwal had announced 50 per cent slash in electricity tariffs for consumers whose usage was capped below 400 units. The subsidy was withdrawn at the end of last financial year. Following this the Aam Aadmi party had alleged that Congress and the BJP were hand in glove in denying residents the 50-percent subsidy in power tariff.
The AAP government, which had come to power following the assembly polls, had announced a 50 percent rollback on power prices but it had to be withdrawn after three months as no provision for the same was made in the budget to subsidise the same. Sources said Jaitley has planned a Rs 600 crore subsidy to ensure 30 percent rollback in the tariff. Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung has already asked the power department to move a proposal for Rs 600 crore to reintroduce subsidy.
The proposal has been sent to the Centre for approval, Delhi finance department sources said.
Power Department sources said that the proposal is on pattern of subsidy provided earlier by the Congress regime, creating two slabs for power consumers – up to 200 units and up to 400 units.
Arvind Kejriwal had announced 50 per cent slash in electricity tariffs for consumers whose usage was capped below 400 units. The subsidy was withdrawn at the end of last financial year. Following this the Aam Aadmi party had alleged that Congress and the BJP were hand in glove in denying residents the 50-percent subsidy in power tariff.
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