Blame game in Assembly over electricity and water bills

During a short duration discussion in the Delhi Assembly on Monday,opposition BJP threatened to intensify protests against inflated power and water bills in the city,while the government warned political parties not to take the law into their hands.

During a short duration discussion in the Delhi Assembly on Monday,opposition BJP threatened to intensify protests against inflated power and water bills in the city,while the government warned political parties not to take the law into their hands.

Leader of the Opposition V K Malhotra said the BJP has protested against several power- and water-related issues,including poor supply,inflated bills and corruption. The BJP has brought up these issues ever since electricity was privatised in Delhi 10 years ago. Not only have the tariffs increased several times,but hundreds of people have been receiving inflated bills, Malhotra said. He said the government policies favour power distribution companies (discoms),and not its citizens. BJP also said that the water supply in the city had deteriorated. While certain areas enjoy uninterrupted water supply,many localities are solely dependent on tankers. This has given rise to tanker mafia in the city,which is looting people, Malhotra said.

He said despite several representations,the government had done nothing to control the situation or improve the quality of water,which was poisonous and polluted. Replying to the BJPs charges,Power Minister Haroon Yusuf warned parties against taking law into their hands. I would like to request the opposition and a new party to avoid politicising issues of power and water by misleading people, Yusuf said.

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Referring to Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)s campaign,Yusuf said that by asking people not to pay bills in protest,the party could create lawlessness.

Refuting the oppositions allegations,the Power Minister said that power tariffs in Delhi were the cheapest among all metro and NCR cities. I would like to appreciate the generosity of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for waiving off all accumulated late payment surcharge on water bills,which will amount to around Rs 500 crore, Yusuf said. He also said that the water in the city was fit for drinking and that the Delhi Jal Board collected 400 samples per day to ensure good water quality.

After the discussion on power and water ended only around 6.45 pm,a second discussion,on pollution in the Yamuna River another contentious issue was cancelled. During question hour,BJP asked the government why all monorail projects were planned in East Delhi,despite other areas needing such services.

Congress refuted the allegation,saying the government was studying the prospects of developing monorails across the city.

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Blame game in Assembly over electricity and water bills

During a short duration discussion in the Delhi Assembly on Monday,opposition BJP threatened to intensify protests against inflated power and water bills in the city,while the government warned political parties not to take the law into their hands.

During a short duration discussion in the Delhi Assembly on Monday,opposition BJP threatened to intensify protests against inflated power and water bills in the city,while the government warned political parties not to take the law into their hands.