Proposed amendments to Electricity Act anti-people: CM

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday came down heavily on the Centre's proposed amendment to the Electricity Act, 2003, calling it "anti-people".

"I will write to all the chief ministers and personally meet those from the BJP-ruled states against the amendments that are very dangerous and draconian. This move is aimed at benefitting the big power companies that are known to be close to the prime minister," the Chief Minister said.

Saying that the amendments also seek to initiate forward trading in the power sector, Kejriwal alleged that it would "snatch away" the power of state governments by bringing all the decision-making rights into the Centre's domain.

"Forward trading will mean the big people will gamble and the common people will have to bear the entire burden of generation, speculation, supply as well as the corruption of the power companies," Kejriwal said.

The Aam Aadmi Party national convenor further said his party will launch a movement against the amendment bill so that its passage in the Rajya Sabha could be stopped.

"We will go the people, telling them that (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji is selling to the power companies," he said.

On September 7, the Centre had sent the proposed amendments to the Electricity Act to the states for their feedback. It planned to pass the bill in the coming Winter Session of Parliament, Kejriwal told reporters on Saturday.

"I am perplexed by the political rationale behind such a move that will hit a huge number of people, especially the poor and farmers. Maybe the Modi government has realised that it will not come back after the 2019 (Lok Sabha) polls and is trying to return back favors to the power companies," Kejriwal claimed.

He explained that in Delhi, the average power cost is Rs 7.40 per unit. "Delhiites get electricity at Re 1 per unit below 200 units and Rs 2.50 per unit below 400 units. Now, this will increase to Rs 7.40 per unit across all slabs. Presently, we are giving a subsidy of Rs 2 per unit to all consumers below 400 units.

"This will have to be increased to Rs 6.40 per unit and Rs 4.90 per unit for consumption up to 200 and 400 units respectively if we have to maintain the same level of tariffs. Obviously, the government does not have that much money and consequently, electricity bills will rise very sharply," the CM added.