In a major relief to Punjab migrants' families who were allotted residential flats at Peeragarhi Camp, the Delhi Cabinet on Monday gave its nod for payment of pending electricity dues amounting to Rs 6.57 crore. The revenue department has also come out with a proposal to close the relief camp as its continuance is not justified any further due to encroachments, increasing crime rate and disaster-prone buildings and structures constructed in the camp.
According to Cabinet proposal, the Government has decided to make payment of accumulated pending electricity dues amounting to Rs 6,57,03,149 (up to September 2012) to BSES Rajdhani Power limited at one time measure for those residing in Peeragarhi relief camp. It is expected to benefit around 2,209 families in Peeragarhi relief camp. While approving the proposal, the Government has made it clear that from September 2012, families of Punjab migrants in Peeragarhi Camp will have to pay electricity themselves since electricity connections with separate meters to all the households have been provided by the BRPl.
Henceforth, no liability shall accrue towards the district administration under Department of Revenue on this account. The payment of electricity charges by the individual households in the camp would not confer right of any kind on to the occupants. A similar proposal was put up before the Cabinet in 2012 and it was decided that discoms should organise camp for electricity meters in this relief camp.
Peeragarhi Relief Camp was set up for Punjab migrants in 1984. The camp was being provided electricity under the single-point delivery system and its cost were being borne by the Revenue Department of the Delhi Government.