New Delhi: Accusing BJP of misleading people on power tariff, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit yesterday said monthly electricity charges will come down for majority of consumers from next month compared to what they were paying earlier due to subsidy announced by her government.
Delhi Government yesterday had approved subsidy for domestic consumers whose monthly consumption does not exceed 400 units. Officials said the subsidy will benefit 84 per cent of domestic power consumers.
"The power bills of consumers will come down significantly as we have announced subsidy for majority of the consumers. Delhi is the only state in the country to sanction such substantial subsidy to consumers," she said.
The Delhi Cabinet yesterday formally approved a proposal to extend subsidy to those consumers whose monthly consumption does not exceed 400 units. Dikshit had announced the subsidy on July 26 when Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission had announced a hike of five per cent for domestic consumers.
"The power tariff is decided by the DERC. The criticism against the government on the issue is unfounded. The opposition party is misleading people on the issue," Dikshit said.
She was speaking after inaugurating work on construction of a nine-km long parallel road along the Outer Ring Road at Mukundpur area in North East Delhi.
The road is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore to decongest various arterial roads in the area. The project will be completed within 18 months, officials said.
Dikshit said that apart from taking up huge infrastructure development projects, the city government is also concentrating on social sector schemes.
She said the new road would reduce 40 per cent burden of traffic from the Outer Ring Road.
"The new road would also be connected with the elevated road on the Outer Ring Road. The six-lane parallel road would ensure fast, congestion-free access to the areas in North West Delhi," she said.
While talking about food security scheme, she said the ambitious programme will be launched in the city on August 20 by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
"We are doing our best to ensure welfare of every section of the society. The development in Delhi is visible as well as it can be felt," she said.
Dikshit complimented the PWD for taking up infrastructure projects worth Rs 5,000 crore in the last few months which included strengthening of 647 roads and construction of signal-free elevated corridor from Vikaspuri to Wazirabad Chowk.
DPCC president J P Agarwal, addressing the gathering said the new infrastructure project would go a long way in decongesting the arterial roads in the locality.
"Delhi has become a role model for other states as far as development and amenities are concerned. It has become closer to a world-class city under the leadership of Dikshit," he said.
Agarwal said Dikshit has won the hearts of all Delhiites and she would return to power in next Assembly election.
On the occasion, PWD Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan said that the parallel road would benefit residents of Rohini, Narela, Libaspur, Wazirabad, Jahangirpuri, Burari, Jagatpur, Jharoda and motorists using the Outer Ring Road from NH-1.
