A major Cabinet decision of the AAP Government to levy sewer charges on each household has received a big ‘no’ from power distribution companies (discoms). The bottleneck has emerged due to strong technical reasons, according to sources.
The discoms are arguing that they are governed by regulatory authority Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) and they are licensed to supply power only, therefore they cannot start charging for seweron their own.
Discoms said the power distribution companies cannot start collecting charges for water without approval of the DERC. Interestingly, when the Arvind Kejriwal Government was deliberating the matter at the Cabinet, the discoms have shown their reservations on the issue.
On Friday, power department held a high-level meeting with discoms on this issue where discoms officials made it clear that according to act, their main function is to supply electricity and generate bills on their consumption from consumers. “There are guidelines which they follow. If they start operating in other sector, they need prior approval from DERC,” discoms officials stated at the meeting. According to sources, Secretary (power) will decide the modality to collect these charges.
Reacting on the stalemate, a senior official said the decision making process in the current regime is half baked in the sense that role of chief secretary in the Cabinet meeting or preparation of Cabinet agenda has been neutralised. The chief secretary is neither consulted nor the part of the discussion. “The Delhi Government has a stake of 49 per cent in the power sector and discoms cannot refuse to abide by the Cabinet decision. But there is a procedure which one should follow,” he added.
The big question arises whether the Government has taken a major decision with discoms’s consent or approval.
Following the directions of NGT, the Kejriwal Government has imposed sewer charges in the name environmental compensation fee ranging between `200 and `500 per month on each household whether they have sewer lines or not. According to cabinet decision, those living in A and B categories colonies will have to fork out `500 per month and those in C and D will have to pay `300 and the rest `200 a month.
This amount will be realised along with the monthly water bill of each household having water connection but not sewerage. Delhi Jal Board will collect charges from those having water connections or metered while those colonies do not have water connections, where , discoms will collect charges.