Allow us to cancel electricity pacts: Kejriwal

Accusing private companies of supplying costly electricity, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to let the Delhi government scrap previous power agreements.

"If this permission is given, then the electricity tariff in Delhi will further come down," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said at the launch of a scheme to redress disputes over electricity bills.

Kejriwal also declared that power companies would be fined if they cut electricity for more than one hour.

He urged the prime minister to allow the Delhi government to buy cheaper power, saying this was available, the AAP tweeted.

He said power tariff was high in the national capital as Delhi was buying more than half its electricity needs at Rs.5.50 a unit.

"We have come to know that many power companies are ready to supply power at Rs.2.5 to Rs.3 a unit.

"When we can get electricity at this rate, why should we buy it for Rs.5 or Rs.5.50 a unit?

"When we examined the issue, we realized that the previous government had entered into agreements valid for 30 years.

"The power companies now tell us that since these agreements are in place, you will have to buy power from us.

"The companies are pressurizing us. Why should people suffer?"

The chief minister said: "We also appeal to the central government and Modi to allow us to cancel the costly agreements reached earlier with private companies."