Delhi residents will continue to get uninterrupted power throughout the summer months as the Delhi High Court has extended the interim stay on the reallocation of power from the Dadri-II plant. The next date of hearing is on October 10.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to examine and take a decision on the rival claims of Delhi and Haryana concerning the allocation of power generated by the Dadri-II thermal plant and also explore avenues to safeguard the interests and projected needs of the national Capital as well as its neighbouring State.
Justice Yashwant Varma urged the MoP to hear all the parties concerned and proceed with due expedition bearing in mind the fact that the allocation in favour of Haryana is restricted to October and it is stated to be facing severe power outages.
The order was passed by the court while dealing with the aspect of the vacation of the interim order passed on the petition by BSES Rajdhani Power Limited on March 30. A writ petition challenging the transfer of allocation was also filed by Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited.
“Upon an overall consideration of all of the above, it would appear to be expedient to require the MoP to examine the rival claims, consider the validity of the asserted right of the petitioners and GNCTD for continued allocation of Dadri-II power, and explore avenues which may safeguard the interests and projected needs of the two States and take an appropriate decision based on a holistic examination of all the facts that may be placed before it,” the court said.
In its 53-page order, the court asserted that there was an “emergent need” to examine and balance the interests and requirements of two competing entities i.e. Delhi and the State of Haryana, and the MoP was the competent authority to examine and consider their respective case for allocation of power generated by Dadri II and pass an appropriate order.
The court observed that the exercise of balancing would entail evaluation and examination of various factual aspects including the data concerning the demand of respective States, the availability of alternate sources to meet exigencies, and the likely cost burden to be borne by the respective States and other germane considerations.