Govt forms panel for power reforms
In an attempt to stem rising discontent and complaints against power tariff hike and long outages in the city in election year, chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday constituted a three-member committee to review the status of power reforms in the city.
Former IAS officer Ajay Shankar, who has served as a secretary in department of industrial policy and promotion, will lead the committee with former Delhi chief secretary P.K. Tripathi and former secretary, department of financial services, D.K. Mittal being the other members.
“The committee has been constituted on the directions of the chief minister. It will examine various aspects relating to power sector reforms in Delhi and will suggest measures to take them forward. The terms and references of the committee are wide and elaborate which will enable it to provide a comprehensive framework to enhance customer satisfaction,” officials said.
The committee has been asked to submit its report within four months. Officials said the government was not happy with functioning of power distribution companies as areas across the city have been facing long outages.
“Delhi has surplus power but still certain areas have been facing powercuts due to local faults. The committee will look into the issue as well,” they said.
Setting up of this committee is also considered to be a move to neutralise the attacks of the BJP and AAP as both the parties have announced to make power tariff hike a major issue in the upcoming Assembly elections.
The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission had last week hiked the tariff for domestic consumers by five per cent. However, with an eye on the Assembly polls, Ms Dikshit neutralised the hike with subsidies on consumption of upto 400 units.
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