Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and Arvind Kejriwal
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
Political mercury kept rising throughout the day on the issue of electricity subsidy in Delhi. When Delhi’s Energy Minister Atishi claimed that there is no free electricity in Delhi since Saturday, the LG also retaliated. The minister accused the LG of keeping the file with him. After recriminations from both the sides, Delhiites finally got relief in the evening. While approving the subsidy file, the LG has advised the Energy Minister to avoid unnecessary politics, false allegations and not to mislead the people of Delhi. On the other hand, taking credit for getting LG’s green signal in the subsidy matter, the Delhi government said that this decision was taken in view of the public’s anger with his efforts.
Delhi’s Energy Minister Atishi, while targeting the Lieutenant Governor in front of the media on Friday, said that he has stopped the file related to electricity subsidy. He claimed that Delhiites would not get free electricity from Saturday. Atishi said that she sent a message to the LG’s office asking for only 5 minutes, but did not get a reply. Urging the LG to pass the file soon, said that if there is a delay, subsidy will not be available in the electricity bill. Due to this, 46 lakh families of Delhi, farmers, lawyers and 1984 riot victims will stop getting free electricity. Tata, BSES have written a letter that they will start billing if they do not get the subsidy information.
Government criticized for not conducting audit
On the other hand, the LG office has replied that they have objections on some points which have been asked to be rectified. Along with this, LG has strongly criticized the AAP government for not conducting audit of power companies. The power minister has been advised to avoid unnecessary politics and false allegations against LG. Misleading people with false statements should stop. The Minister and the Chief Minister should answer to the people of Delhi why the decision in this regard was kept pending till April 4, when the deadline was April 15. Why was the file sent to LG on April 11. What was the need to create a drama by writing a letter and holding a press conference on 13th April, when the LG approved the file.
Kejriwal government will not let facilities stop
On the approval of the LG on the electricity subsidy issue, the Delhi government has said that the LG should bow down to the efforts of the Kejriwal government and the anger spread by the public. The Kejriwal government wants to assure the people of Delhi that whatever may have to be done, they will not let the facilities being provided to Delhiites stop. A day ago, the minister tried to meet the LG for the whole day in the matter of power subsidy, but did not get time. As soon as the information about stopping the electricity subsidy by LG reached the public, a lot of anger spread among them. On Friday also Energy Minister Atishi tried to get the file cleared and also exposed the conspiracy of BJP and LG to the media to stop free electricity. After this, LG hastily approved the free electricity file.
criticism of the government
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has slammed the Aam Aadmi Party government for evading audit of giving Rs 13,549 crore to private power companies. This subsidy was given between 2016 and 2022. The LG reiterated its commitment on this head relief for the economically weaker sections. He clarified that this amount given under the head of subsidy has been received from the public in the form of tax and revenue. It is the important responsibility of the government that instead of going into the hands of some vested interest or money stealer, the needy should get its benefit.
The LG, while allowing Kejriwal government’s proposal for audit of power companies by a CAG empaneled auditor, made it clear that the audit should be done by the CAG only. Empaneled auditors cannot be considered as a substitute for CAG audit. He said that the AAP government was grossly negligent in getting the accounts of the power companies audited. The government asked DERC in 2015 to conduct an audit of the accounts of power companies but remained indifferent on the issue when it could have invoked Section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003.
Under this Act, it could give binding directions to the DERC to conduct audits. But the fact is that DERC did not conduct any kind of audit. Thereafter, the Chief Secretary sent the file in December 2022 for audit to DERC under the mandatory section of the Act. But on January 27, the then Minister of Electricity Manish Sisodia also rejected it. LG has expressed surprise on this. Expressing serious objection, the LG has not audited Rs 13,549 crore of public money for the last 6 years.
The subsidy fixed for the economically weaker section was given to the private power distribution companies without any scrutiny of the public money. The LG said that due to the wavering attitude of the government, the matter of getting the accounts of power companies audited by the CAG is pending in the Supreme Court for the last 7 years. In fact, in 2015, the Delhi High Court quashed the Delhi government’s order to get the power companies audited by the CAG. The Delhi government filed an appeal against this decision in 2016 and since then the matter is pending in the Supreme Court.
