Dwellers of posh Central Delhi who until now were not entitled to the AAP Government’s free “lifeline water” and 50 per cent subsidy on power bills, will get to avail both the schemes from April onwards.
Surprisingly, slashing tariffs by half for those who consume up to 400 units in the lutyens’ Zone area is set to benefit as much as 73 per cent of the total consumers. The civic agency has rolled out proposals in which around 41,000 domestic consumers will benefit from the two schemes.
Provisions for both the schemes are being made in NDMC’s 2015-16 Budget, which is going to be released on March 25. The civic body itself distributes power in areas under its jurisdiction and has 70,000 consumers out of which 44,000 are domestic consumers. Out of the total domestic consumers, the power subsidy is going to benefit 32,000.
“The power subsidy is going to benefit around 73 per cent consumers, which is a big chunk. The beneficiaries are mostly Government employees,” said an official.
The NDMC is likely to pass the schemes in its council meeting scheduled on March 20 when Delhi Chief Minister and New Delhi MlA Arvind Kejriwal and MlA from Delhi Cantonment Surender Singh will be administered the oath of office as members of the Council.
Ironically, the 29 JJ clusters, which fall in the NDMC area, will not get to avail these facilities as it does not have meters for both water and power. With a mammoth 45 per cent of its water supply being wasted by consumers, who mostly comprise VIPs, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) believes the free lifeline water will help promote conservation in the area.
“There are 29,000 metered water connections under the NDMC out of which 9,000 households consume up to 20 kilolitres per month. Slums do not have metered connections yet, but we are mapping these areas to bring them under the ambit of metered connections,” added the official.
Sources said the power subsidy is going to cost the agency Rs21 crore for a year whereas to provide 20
kilolitres of water gratis every month, it will have to shell out Rs1.5 crore per year only. The NDMC had taken up the same scheme in January 2014 as well but before it could begin the then AAP Government had quit.
“Provisions have been made for the two in the Budget. The Delhi Government is supposed to give us the money for both the schemes because we are a discom as well as water utility in the area. We are awaiting the approval letter from them,” said another official, while adding that the Delhi Government may not repay the civic body as it calls it a “cash-rich” agency.
The move comes two weeks after the new Government led by Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal announced free water up to
20 kilolitres and 50 per cent cut in power bills for consumption up to 400 units.