Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony on February 14, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is all set to fulfill one of its key poll promises and has begun working towards extending power subsidy to a whopping 33.50 lakh consumers in the National Capital. There are 39.56 lakh domestic power consumers in Delhi out of which 33.50 lakh households consume up to 400 units.
The Delhi Government’s Power Department has prepared a Cabinet proposal that will enable the Arvind Kejriwal Government to give 50 per cent subsidy to domestic consumers who use 400 units of power per month. This is in sync with the promises made by Kejriwal during his election speeches and is part of the AAP’s manifesto. This subsidy will put an additional burden of Rs1,400 crores on the State Exchequer. The Kejriwal Government is apparently planning to present a Vote-on-Account for the next three months before presenting the full annual Budget of the Delhi Government for the year 2015-16.
The proposal is expected to be brought up at the first Cabinet meeting of the new Government, scheduled for Saturday. According to officials, Cabinet approval is needed for giving relief to power consumers. However, there is a possibility that the first Cabinet meeting may get deferred due to Kejriwal’s ill health or he may hold the Cabinet meeting at his house. The first Cabinet meeting may also decide the first Assembly session of the Sixth legislative Assembly.
At present the Government gives a subsidy of Rs1.20 per unit up to 200 units. Now, the Government is planning to give subsidy of Rs2 per unit up to 200 units and between 201 and 400 units, the subsidy amount will be Rs2.95 per unit. In all, the Government is giving a subsidy of Rs260 crore to power consumers here. Those who consume 400 units and above would not qualify for the subsidy.
Officials say that power tariff is much lower in Delhi as compared to Ahmedabad, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mumbai and Andhra Pradesh.For instance, power tariff in Ahmedabad is Rs3.90 per unit up to 200 units while it is Rs2.80 per unit in Delhi. Similarly, the power tariff in Haryana is Rs4.50 per unit up to 200 units while it is Rs5.56 per unit up to 300 units in Mumbai. In Andhra Pradesh the power tariff is Rs3.25 per unit up to 100 units.
Kejriwal Government had cut 50 per cent tariff for power consumers in the first Cabinet meeting held on December 31, 2013 during his 49-day rule. Meanwhile, Ramlila Maidan is ready for Chief Minister-designate Kejriwal’s swearing-in ceremony on Saturday, with a massive crowd expected to converge on the historic ground. Multiple agencies, from Delhi Police to the Public Works Department are working in tandem to secure the venue ahead of the big day.
A total of 76 CCTV cameras have been installed inside the ground and around its periphery to secure the venue. Two monitoring units have been set up, with one taking care of 51 cameras and the other tracking the remaining 25. Security personnel drawn from ITBP, CRPF, CISF, SSB and Delhi Police have been deployed at the venue. Metal detectors have also been installed in and around the ground, while 60 baggage scanners have been put in for the first time to further strengthen the security cover.
“Seating arrangements for 50,000 people have been made by the Delhi Government and standing space for about 20,000 people has been organized. A separate VIP enclosure has also been made.Anticipating a large crowd, Delhi Traffic Police has advised commuters to avoid routes leading to Ramlila Maidan as a major traffic jam is expected in New Delhi and Central Delhi. These roads would be affected between 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday (depending upon the conclusion of the ceremony). The swearing-in ceremony will be held at noon.