BJP rally against power tariff hike on Aug 11

Slamming Delhi government and power regulator DERC for hike in power tariff, Delhi BJP today announced an agitation against the "anti-people" decision and indicated that the party will make it a major issue in the run up to the assembly elections slated for November.

Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel, while accusing the city government and Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) of siding with the power distribution companies, said the party will hold a "massive rally" at Ramlila ground on August 11 to demand roll back of the hike.

The DERC yesterday hiked the tariff for domestic consumers by 5%,  heeding to the demands of the distribution companies.

But with the regulator waiving the fuel surcharge and the city Government swiftly announcing a subsidy for those limiting their monthly consumption to 400 units, the tariff will in effect come down marginally for low-end consumers.

"We will launch an agitation across the city to protest against the anti-people decision. The tariff has been hiked several times in the last two years which is totally unacceptable. We will hold a massive rally on the issue at Ramlila Ground on August 11," Goel said.

The power tariff in the city was hiked by 22 per cent in 2011 followed by five per cent hike in February last year. The tariff was hiked by up to two per cent in May last year and again by 26 per cent for domestic consumers in July last year. The tariff was hiked by up to three per cent in February.

Goel said the party will hold candle light marches across the city including outside the Chief Minister's residence.

"It will be followed by agitation at district and block levels. It is very unfortunate that the government, instead of protecting the interests of common people, is siding with the private discoms," Goel said.

He had already announced that the tariff will be slashed by 30 per cent if BJP comes to power in the assembly elections slated to be held in November.

"We will not tolerate this hike. We are very clear that instead of increasing power tariff, there is an immediate scope of reducing it by at least 30 per cent," Goel said

The Delhi BJP chief claimed that though the discoms had asked for hike of 1.8 per cent, the DERC had increased it by five per cent.

He also alleged that DERC and Delhi government are getting ready to dole out Rs 19,505 crore to the private power distribution companies, heeding to their claims of losses in the last few years.

"This figure is based on claims submitted by the discoms. No cross verification has been carried out by the DERC. Why there has been no independent verification of these figures?" he asked.