Taking the first step towards slashing power tariff by 50 per cent, the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government on Monday directed finance and power departments to immediately send their proposals for its implementation. The decision was taken in the first cabinet meeting of the AAP government chaired by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Taking the first step towards slashing power tariff by 50 per cent, the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government on Monday directed finance and power departments to immediately send their proposals for its implementation. The decision was taken in the first cabinet meeting of the AAP government chaired by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The Kejriwal-led government has also directed the Delhi Jal Board to prepare a proposal on providing free water up to 20,000 litres to every household per month.
Slashing power tariff by half and providing free water were key pre-poll promises made by AAP in the assembly elections which they won with a landslide majority.
Besides Kejriwal, all six ministers – deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, transport minister Gopal Rai, health minister Satyendar Jain, home minister Jitender Singh Tomar, food and supply minister Asim Ahmed Khan and social welfare & women and child welfare minister Sandeep Kumar were present in the meeting.
“CM Kejriwal on Monday directed the finance and power departments to immediately send their proposals to him for implementation of the election promises to slash the electricity tariffs by 50 per cent till the audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of the private power companies (discoms) is completed," said a senior official.
Meanwhile, the media was unhappy with the treatment meted out on them, on Monday. Journalists at the secretariat on Monday were not allowed inside, beyond the reception area. Even accredited journalists were banned the entry. Camped out at the secretariat since morning the journalists' temper were running high. When government spokesperson, and former journalist Naginder Sharma came out to address the issue he was greeted by a barrage of angry questions. Though a visibly agitated Sharma asked for 24 hours to sort out the issue.
Questions were raised as to how this was an Aam Aadmi's Sarkar. "Don't politicise the issue," replied Sharma immediately. However the press conference turned into a mess because the media couldn't decide among themselves whether or not to carry on with the boycott. When a section of photographers and print journalists saw the TV reporters turn their cameras on, disaster struck. They yelled at deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia that no camera would record his briefing. Hearing this the Deputy chief minister walked out, followed by journalists arguing with photographers and camera persons not to record.
—With agency inputs
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