Comparing power discoms with British who colonised the country, Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain said on Monday that power is the only sector where the profit margin is 16 per cent despite “inefficiency”.
“How can people be lootedIJ First you colonise an area. The British came and colonised (the country). This is not possible today. It’s difficult to control anyone physically in today’s time. Today, there are necessary items, or items which have been made necessary...Electricity has become a necessity… Even the poor or rich cannot live without it. So people pay it quietly. These are not answers, but questions that I have,” the Power Minister said.
Jain also questioned the purchase agreements with the power discoms in which there can be “no negotiations”. He said the Delhi Government has written to the Centre several times over “surrendering” over 2265 MW of expensive power.
“When we asked to bring down the rates of electricity, they said you can surrender power. I went back to surrender 2265 MW of power. I was told that Delhi will face electricity shortage. To this, I said this will be taken care by us, but just accept the surrender of power. If the 2265 MW could be surrendered whose cost is more than Rs 6 per unit, then rates of electricity will come down.”
Jain was speaking at a conference organised by the United Residents Joint Action of Delhi (URJA).
Jain also said the Delhi Government has redesigned 11 city roads with an aim to promote public transport, cycling and make them friendly for pedestrians and physically- challenged people. He added that these roads will be ready in next 6-8 months.
“There is no proper footpath in Delhi. And even if they exist, it is like a roller coaster. You cannot take a wheel-chair on it. We want the footpath to be used by an eight-year-old kid and also by an 80-year-old man,” Jain said.
He said the roads will have cycle-lane and priority would be given to public transport vehicles on them.
“If people like them, then we will make similar roads across Delhi,” Jain said.