Power tariff, 20K litres free water; Kejriwal vows to fulfil other promises too
NEW DELHI: Twelve days after coming to power in Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government on Wednesday slashed power tariff by 50 percent for consumption up to 400 units per month and 20,000 litres of free water per household every month.
The Delhi government’s decision will benefit around 90 percent of Delhiites, announced Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia here after a Cabinet meeting.The Cabinet meeting was presided over by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.The cut in tariff and the free water scheme will be effective from Sunday (March 01).
“The reduction in power tariff will benefit 36,06,428 families, which is around 90 percent of the city’s population,” Sisodia said, adding that those consuming over 400 units would have to pay the full bill. Water tariff will also be charged if the consumption limit exceeds 20,000 litres.
After the announcement, Kejriwal took to Twitter to assure that he would fulfil other poll promises too.Earlier, Sisodia also said that around 18 lakh families will be able to reap the benefits of free water and informed that the Delhi Jal Board has been directed to speed up the process of setting up infrastructure to provide water to colonies which do not have pipelines.
The Deputy CM said consumers getting free water will not require to pay for sewer charges.On free power scheme, Sisodia said the government will review power rates after Comptroller and Auditor General of India completes audit of the accounts of the power discoms.
Slashing power tariff and giving free water were two of the key electoral promises made by the AAP ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls, which the party won with a landslide majority.During its last stint of 49 days in Delhi in 2014, the AAP government had announced a 50 percent reduction in power bills as well as 700 litres of free water for every household on a daily basis.
