Kejriwal takes first step towards slashing power bills

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal got cracking on Monday, his first day in office, and sought a blueprint from officials on how to slash power bills of consumers by half and provide 20,000 litres of water free for every household per month.

Halving power tariff and giving water free were the key poll promises of the Aam Aadmi Party which recorded a historic win in the Assembly elections.

After the first cabinet meeting, Kejriwal’s team made the populist announcement of imposing a temporary ban on demolitions in residential buildings and slums till the time the government reviews the existing demolition policy.

The cabinet also took the decision to recommend a two-day Assembly session from February 23 for the swearing-in of the new legislators and election of a new Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

On the power front, the officials were asked by the cabinet to give suggestions for the implementation of the election promises to slash the electricity tariffs by 50 per cent till the completion of audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of the private power distribution companies.

The ongoing audit of the accounts of the power companies was ordered by the previous Kejriwal government.

During his last term as the chief minister, Kejriwal had announced within 48 hours of assuming power a 50 per cent cut in power rates by providing a monthly subsidy to the power companies.

Similarly, on the water front, he had announced free supply of about 667 litres water every day  (20,000 litres per month) to all households with meter connections.

Monday’s announcement on curbs on demolitions may bring relief mainly to homes and slums that came up after 2007. The decision was towards “a holistic view on the existing policy of carrying out demolitions of residential houses” and slums.

An official statement said the government has issued directions to various agencies – New Delhi Municipal Council, North, East and South Delhi Municipal Corporations, Delhi Jal Board, environment and forests, revenue department – not to carry out any demolition till this review is completed.

The Delhi government announcement may not bring any new relief to a large number of city’s illegal structures, that came up before 2007, as these already have the anti-demolition protection under the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Amendment Bill, 2014 passed by Parliament.

The temporary curbs on demolition may only apply to those properties that have been built on land belonging to Delhi government departments and not in areas which come under the jurisdiction of the three corporations ruled by the BJP, said a north corporation official.