In an attempt to rein in power supplying companies, the Arvind Kejriwal Government on Thursday asked private discoms to furnish details about their relationship with former officers of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) and the various departments of the State Government.
The exercise is aimed at identifying those officials who exploited their Delhi Government days to liaise for the discoms and DERC with the decision-makers in the Power Department. This is also being seen as pressure tactics on DERC and discoms to desist from a power tariff hike this year as both DERC and discoms have already started the process to finalise power tariff for 2015. The power tariff hike is expected by end of May or first week of June.
Insiders believe it to be pressure tactics on discoms and DERC as the Kejriwal Government does not want power tariff hike this year. “If power tariff is hiked, the subsidy being given to consumers will be neturalised and impact of this subsidy may be reduced to either zero or five per cent,” they added. In a letter to the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Tata Power Delhi Distribution limited (TPDDl), BSES Rajdhani and BSES Yamuna, the Power Department sought details regarding any relationship of BYPl/BRPl/TPDDl (NDPl) with any former senior officers of the DERC, including its chairman/members or officers of the Department of Power,
Government of the Delhi, since inception of their companies till date. The Power Department has asked the three discoms to provide information in a time-bound manner. “The information may please be given irrespective of the nature of relationship which may include permanent employment/part-time employment/long-term or short-term contract, consultancy, advisory, availing of any services, any outsourcing work and any involvement in purchases, including payment of any commission etc. Information in respect of such former officers who have/had relations with any of your group company is also requested,” the letter said.
When asked, the AAP Government said it was committed towards complete transparency in the functioning of all its departments and organisations where public money was involved. “Why will discoms provide details of their employees to the Delhi GovernmentIJ What does Arvind Kejriwal really want to proveIJ” asked a BSES official.
On the other hand, Delhi Government officials said this was all the part of their gameplan. Earlier, the Arvind Kejriwal Government had written to DERC, seeking clarification from the quasi-judicial body that why the power tariff was increased despite discoms being in profit. Besides, Delhi Assembly passed a resolution to summon DERC chairman in the House. In response to the Delhi Government, the DERC cited the “inappropriate” nature of the demand by AAP.
Questioning AAP’s stand, DERC said blaming the commission for the wrongdoings of distribution companies (discoms) was uncalled for, especially as the Government was a 49 per cent stakeholder in all discoms. “The Delhi Government has 49 per cent share in all distribution companies and its high officials are directors on the boards of these companies. The Government is, therefore, expected and assumed to be familiar with the affairs of the discoms. It might not be proper for any stakeholder (such as the Government) to raise questions of the DERC regarding its quasi-judicial functioning by administrative recourse,” the letter said.