The AAP government has fulfilled two major campaign promises, halving power tariffs for consumption up to 400 units a month and announcing that 20,000 litres (20 kilolitres) of water would be supplied free to every household in Delhi. Identical measures had been taken by AAP during its previous 49-day tenure.
Making both announcements at a press conference, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said the power subsidy would cover some 36 lakh households in Delhi, amounting to some 90% of electricity consumers in the capital. Those who consume over 400 units a month will not receive any subsidy .
The water scheme is expected to benefit around 13 lakh out of 15 lakh families with meters. It will cost the government Rs.20 crore in March and another Rs.250 crore in the next fiscal. Many people with power supply do not have metered water connections in Delhi. Like last year, if consumption exceeds 20 kl by even one litre, the entire amount of 20,001 litre would be billed. So, a single litre will send the bill soaring from zero to Rs.884 a month.
The power subsidy will be effective from next month and is expected to cost the state Rs.70 crore in March and Rs.1,427 crore in the next fiscal year (April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016).
Sisodia reiterated the assurance given by the previous AAP government that the power subsidy would be provided only till CAG shares the results of its audit of discoms. Tariffs would be reviewed after that.
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