Terming the 20 per cent tariff hike sought by discoms as "unreasonable", Congress has urged the Delhi government not to accept the demand.
"If the demands of discoms are met, then it will not only be unreasonable, but will also add heavy and unjustifiable burden on all categories of consumers. We have written to (Delhi Chief Minister Arvind) Kejriwal appealing him to... ensure exorbitant tariff hike is not allowed at any cost," Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ajay Maken told reporters here today.
In the letter, the Delhi Congress has asked the government to issue directions to the regulator Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) to take a decision over the issue in "public interest".
In its petition filed before the DERC Secretary on April 17, Congress asked authorities to provide one electricity meter per household to bring more residents under the category of consumers getting 50 per cent subsidy on power consumption up to 400 units a month.
The party also termed as "untrue" claims by government that 90 per cent of Delhi residents have been extended the subsidy benefit.
"There has been no profiling of consumers done to ascertain if consumers are receiving the benefits. Then how come they claim so?" Maken asked, and pressed for a proper profiling of consumers.
He also accused discoms of not passing benefit of 40 per cent reduction in electricity theft during 2002-03 and 2013-14 to consumers. He said there has been unexplained escalation in operation and maintenance cost projected by companies and said the private players have "wasted" public money to the tune of Rs 260 crore.
