BJP leader and ex-Union minister Vijay Goel on Saturday alleged that electricity prices have shot up by 30% in the national capital after the AAP-ruled Delhi government hiked the fixed charges in electricity bills.
Addressing a press conference, Goel alleged that while Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been making tall claims with assurances of free water and half power prices, the reality was that Delhi was facing acute water crisis during the current summer season.
Goel alleged that the fixed charges in electricity bills have increased by 30% in the three year period from 2016 to 2019.
“Earlier, people were charged Rs 600/kw as the security deposit, but today Rs 900/kw is being charged, i.e. an increase of 50 per cent. Similarly, in the case of 5 kw or more, people are paying a deposit of Rs 1200 while it was Rs 600 earlier,” alleged Goel.
“DERC has asked the people living in houses in 500 mt or above to provide a space for transformers if they need a new connection. Transformers are being set up inside houses,” he said.
Goel alleged that the Kejriwal government has collected Rs 7000 crore by hiking fixed charges, demanding that it should be returned to the people of Delhi.
“Even after being in power for the past four-and-a-half years, Kejriwal is still to act on his electoral promises. He promised to set up Delhi’s own power station to solve power problems, especially to meet the peak power demand but the new station is nowhere in sight. Besides, the promises to revive Rajghat power plant, and turning Delhi into the solar city, also remain unfulfilled,” he said.