[Following a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday , deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia told reporters that beginning next month, every household with a metered connection consuming 400 units of power will be charged half the existing tariff, and water consumption up to 20,000 litres will be free.]
I/II. http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31818&articlexml=Kejriwal-Walks-Poll-Talk-Halves-Power-Tariff-Gives-26022015002035 Feb 26 2015 : The Economic Times (Mumbai) Kejriwal Walks Poll Talk, Halves Power Tariff & Gives Free Water New Delhi Our Political Bureau EARLY HOLI FOR DELHIITES Fulfilling a key campaign pledge of Aam Aadmi Party Less than two weeks into office, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government slashed power charges by half and waived water tariffs beginning March 1 for a majority of consumers. ***Following a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday , deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia told reporters that beginning next month, every household with a metered connection consuming 400 units of power will be charged half the existing tariff, and water consumption up to 20,000 litres will be free*** [emphasis added]. This fulfils a key poll pledge of the Aam Aadmi Party , which won the recent Delhi assembly elections with an overwhelming margin. "This is an important day for Delhi's aam aadmi, because every aam aadmi of Delhi is sad about increased power and water bills. It is also my appeal to Delhi residents to consume power moderately so that you get a bill for less than 400 units and you have to pay only half the tariff. We have checked all facts, this decision will help 90% of domestic consumers and 36,06,428 families," said Sisodia.The subsidies will cost a about `1,700 crore in FY16, as per the figures provided by the Delhi government. The deputy chief minister said those consuming water above the subsidy threshold will be obliged to pay the entire billed amount. "We are also concerned about saving water, after all," he told ET. "This is consistent with our promises." Similar measures had been put in place during the first stint of the AAP in government more than a year ago and withdrawn after Kejriwal's resignation. But unlike the last time, when only about 13 lakh families could benefit from the subsidy thanks to limited coverage of water meters, this time the number will be 18 lakh. Water as a citizen's right and inexpensive power thanks to a transparent and fair tariff mechanism have been AAP's most heavily promoted policy priorities. It will also need to take into account the likely findings of the audit of the distribution companies by the CAG that's still underway besides the need to balance its own books. II. http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-delhi-government-slashes-power-tariff-announces-free-water-2064069 Delhi government announces cheaper power, free water; Kejriwal says will fulfill all promises Wednesday, 25 February 2015 - 8:30pm IST | Place: New Delhi | Agency: dna webdesk dna Web Team Kejriwal tweeted that he has fulfilled the promises made to the people. The Delhi Chief Minister further said in his tweet that all other promises will be fulfilled too and sought the support of the public. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday vowed to fulfill all the promises made to the people of Delhi as his government slashed power tariff by 50 % for consumption up to 400 units per month and 20,000 litres of free water per household every month. Kejriwal tweeted that he has fulfilled the promises made to the people. The Delhi Chief Minister further said in his tweet that all other promises will be fulfilled too and sought the support of the public. Addressing a press conference, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said, "We had promised to reduce power tariffs. Families using power till 400 units will get it at half the price and this will be effective from the 1st of March." However, "Those families using more than 400 units will have to pay the entire bill," he added. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also announced that government will also provide 20,000 litres of free water to every household per month. However, water tariff will be charged if the consumption limit exceeds 20,000 litres. The free water scheme will come into force from March 1. Sisodia said consumers getting free water will not require to pay for sewer charges. ***In its manifesto, AAP had promised to cut power tariff by 50% immediately after coming to power and had said the rates will be revised based on the findings of a CAG audit which the Kejriwal government had announced during its first stint.*** [Emphasis added.] Earlier in the day, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met Comptroller and Auditor General Shashi Kant Sharma and discussed the status of scrutiny of finances of the private power distribution companies by the auditor which was ordered by the AAP government during its first stint. ***The first AAP government in January last year had ordered CAG audit of the finances of the three power companies -- BSES Yamuna Power Ltd, BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd. It had even warned the discoms that their licenses may be cancelled if they do not cooperate with the audit.*** [Emphasis added.] [For the screenshot of Kejriwal's tweet, in Hindi, visit the site.] -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
