Power tariff in Delhi much less than other major cities: Govt

"Unless the power sector is looked at realistically, the situation in the sector will not improve. The cost of raw materials have increased. The price of coal has increased," Power Minister Haroon Yusuf said.

He said there are no frequent power cuts in the capital, while its satellite cities like Gurgaon, Ghaziabad and Faridabad goes without power for "12-13 hours" a day.

"There is a lot of improvement in power sector in the past 10 years...The power tariff in Delhi is much lesser than what people pay in Bangalore, Mumbai and Kolkata. The tariff here is very less. Still, there is 24-hour power supply here.

"Sometimes, one has to pay Rs 6 to Rs 8 for a unit of power because electricity supply is there for 24 hours. There are no power cuts. Take the example of other places like Gurgaon, Faridabad and Ghaziabad where there is a power cut of 12-13 hours," Yusuf said at the 10th Foundation Day of Delhi Power Company Limited and Delhi Transco Limited.

The minister also congratulated the firms and discoms for meeting the power demand that rose to an all-time high of 5,600 MW this summer.

Yusuf's comments assume significance in the wake of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission effecting a steep hike in power tariffs last month. The move was widely criticised by all sections. (More)