Man on street spared tax axe in Delhi Budget
Centre plugs into power sector reforms
A revamp of the existing transmission network in the national Capital was a major attraction of the Delhi Budget presented in the Parliament on Friday. Taking cognizance of the recent power blackout due to poor transmission infrastructure, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday announced an outlay of Rs 675 crore for the energy sector.
For the relief of energy and power system in Delhi, Jaitley announced to improve the transmission and distribution network. The Centre directed the Delhi Transco limited (DTl) to commission a new 400 KV sub-station at Harsh Vihar and 220 KV GIS (Gas Insulated Switch gear) sub-station at Peera Garhi. “It is also proposed to take up the construction of three new 220 KV GIS sub-stations at Pappan Kalan, Tughlakabad and Rajghat Power House in the current financial year. It is proposed to develop New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area as a solar city under the scheme of Development of Solar cities of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE),” said Jaitley in his Budget speech. While presenting the Union Budget 2014-15 on July 10, the Centre had already allocated Rs 200 crore for power reforms in the Capital.
“Increase in power tariff is necessitated due to increase in input costs. However, the poor and marginalised should not suffer. I therefore, propose power subsidy of Rs 260 crore for the domestic consumers to provide relief to the targeted consumers on account of increase in tariff. The modalities will be worked out by the Government of NCT of Delhi,” he added.