Delhi RWAs demand exit of Reliance-owned BSES

Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) of east Delhi have demanded the exit of Reliance Power-owned BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) on account of poor services and losses claimed by them.

"Reliance Infra-led Delhi Airport Metro Express recently exited from the Airport Metro line project citing heavy losses. Since the Reliance Power owned BSES Rajdhani and BSES Yamuna have also been claiming that they are running into losses for the last one decade, these firms should also exit," Anil Bajpai, president of East Delhi Resident's Forum, said in a statement.

The people in Delhi, Bajpai said, have been facing long power cuts and getting hefty bills. The companies are also known to have failed to provide payments to power suppliers, he added.

"We expect Delhi chief minister and Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission to intervene and address the problem, and not safeguard the interest of private power companies," said M.M. Mehra, secretary, Resident Welfare Association of Karkardooma.

The two companies provide electricity to the Airport Metro line, besides south and east Delhi.

"We have been consistently saying that the power privatisation model in Delhi is flawed, corrupt and designed for profit maximisation at the cost of consumers," said V.N. Bali, spokesperson of East Delhi RWA Federation.

After the privatisation of Delhi's power sector and the unbundling of the Delhi Vidyut Board in July 2002, power distribution was transferred to BRPL and BYPL.