While there is no doubt that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government’s largesses of 20,000 litres of free water per household per month and 50 per cent reduction in power tariff for consumers using upto 400 units per month will benefit a whopping 54 lakh
households in the national Capital, but a section of urban minority will not benefit from these schemes.
This section, that consists of tenants, slum dwellers and those living in unauthorised colonies, is left sulking as the schemes don’t cater to their needs. The policies will have no impact on the exorbitant power bills of tenants, especially migrant students and young professionals, which work out to be six times more than the subsidised rates announced by the Government, owing to the draconian “rent agreement” imposed by their landlords.
The pre-requisite for any household to avail these schemes is to have a metered connection for both water and power. But many who live on rent mostly in barsaatis (small room on the roof) and “one-set rooms” (one bedroom, utility room and bathroom) would not be able to reap any
benefits. The reason is the greedy landlords, who under the ambit of the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 charge four to six times more for power, making the cost anywhere between Rs8 to Rs12 per unit. The irony is that power consumption by most of these lessees does not even cross 400 units per month.
When 26-year-old Shriparna Saha who lives in a “one-set” accommodation in South Extension was asked about the fulfillment of poll promises by the new Government, she just shrugged her shoulders in indifference. “Our cost of living here either remains the same or only increases. I live on the second floor and there is another room that has been rented out on the same floor. It’s the same arrangement for the first floor. The main electricity meter is on the ground floor where the owner lives. Each rented unit has a sub-meter to keep track of our electricity consumption. Technically, it is a single connection and the monthly bill needs to be split accordingly.
That seems fair enough, but the point is that they charge Rs 9 per unit which is more than even the highest slab of 801 units and above for domestic consumers in Delhi,” she rued adding that she is charged additional Rs 400 for water. Both charges are over and above the base rent which is increased by 10 per cent annually.
Under the new subsidy, consumers will have to pay only Rs 2 per unit for power consumption up to 200 units per month and Rs 2.97 for up to 400 units. When asked about the issue by The Pioneer, landlords curtly said that it was all legal. “We are not forcing anybody to stay. It is their choice. We charge the going rate only and the tenants are free to leave at any point they want,” said a defensive 46-year-old businessman in Jangpura who requested anonymity.
The flagship power subsidy, otherwise, is expected to benefit over 36 lakh consumers in the Capital. When it comes to the free water scheme, the situation is just as gloomy. Bungalows usually have a single water connection with no sub-metre which means the bill is split equally among everyone, irrespective of individual consumption. Besides, some Rent Agreements also have a fixed water rate between Rs 400-800 per month for the tenants.
The AAP Government while announcing free 20,000 litres of water per month also extended it to group housing societies. But the plan seems hardly feasible as in some societies water is supplied only in bulk by the Delhi Jal Board. Again while around 18 lakh homes would enjoy the free water, there are over 14 lakh homes that still do not have piped water connections and rely on tankers and other sources.
If the AAP Government really wants the maximum number of people to benefit from its people-friendly schemes it should put reworking the Rent Control Act at the top of its agenda. Experts also opine that another important step toward truly realizing these freebies would be to put a metre for every “household” and not every “house”.