After the power shocker by the erstwhile Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government, the consumer of Delhi Jal Board (DJB) may end up being duped by former Chief Minister of Delhi.
In announcing free water supply up to 667 litres every day to each household, provision of budgetary expenses were not borne and the Finance Department has turned down the request of DJB which needed Rs 41 crore to supply the AAP “promised” free water supply till March 31. There is no legal compulsion for the Delhi Jal Board or Delhi Government’s Finance Department to continue the free water scheme. The lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung had announced that decisions taken by the Arvind Kejriwal Government would be continued. But within two days, the Government has withdrawn all subsidies, including water and power being given to the consumers from April 1.
Top sources told The Pioneer that Finance Department has refused to pay the bill of Rs 41 crore as subsidy to the DJB to provide free water to consumers till March 31. According to sources, Kejriwal had asked the DJB to bear a subsidy amount of Rs 41 crore for three months and after that the Government would provide the subsidy amount to the Board. The process of opening a separate account for funding the DJB has not been initiated yet. At the 115th review meeting of the DJB, the Delhi Government’s Finance Department refused to pay for the subsidy. The big question is whether the DJB will recover the amount from consumers who have benefited from the scheme or will it have to bear the burden of the subsidy.
“If there is no provision in the budget, the Finance Department cannot help the DJB for continuation of the scheme,” an official added. The problem surfaced again as there is no Government to take decisions. “Despite being a surplus budget, the DJB cannot afford this heavy amount for subsidy as it has to carry out various repair work and maintenance of the pipelines too incur heavy expenditure,” the official added.