Power tariff hike: AAP has forgotten plight of Delhi's citizens, says Maken

Says AAP is busy fighting the central government and that the 6% hike is a precursor to another 20% tariff hike in July

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) chief Ajay Maken on Monday questioned the power tariff hike of 6% and alleged that the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has failed to govern and is backtracking on promises made to the people.

The Congress said the AAP government was ignoring the people of Delhi, as their top priority at the moment was to fight with the Centre on frivolous issues.

"They are so busy fighting for their own rights, they are so busy fighting with the Central Government on frivolous issues, that they have forgotten the governance issues. They have forgotten the plight of people of Delhi. We are reeling under the power crisis, and the sanitation aspect of Delhi is also something which everyone has seen. So, the Delhi Government instead of providing a solution, is busy fighting with each other and fighting with so many agencies," he said.

Maken claimed that the 6% hike is only a prelude to the next 20% which he said is going to happen in July.

"It is unfortunate that this government, which has come to power on the promise of reducing power tariff by half, we are facing six percent hike now, and next month, when the Regulatory Commission will decide on the basis of the annual revenue requirement for these private companies on the ARR basis, we are going to have another tariff hike of up to 20 percent," Maken said.

"So, this 6 percent is just a prelude to the next 20 percent which is going to happen next month. And, this government doesn't seem to do anything on this. They should have issued policy directions to the Regulatory Commission. They should have suit their own means, they should have ensured because 49 percent share is that of the government...," he added.

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) had last week approved a tariff hike of up to 6% for the three distribution companies operating in the region.

The hike, which will come into effect from today, will be applicable for the next three quarters.