Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced that the electricity subsidy in the national capital would be given only to those who ask for it from October 1. He said people will now be given the option to choose whether or not they want subsidy.
In Delhi, the Kejriwal-led AAP government provides 200 units of free power per month. Since the party assumed power in Delhi in 2015, Re 1 per unit was announced for poorer households with consumption needs of less than 200 units and a subsidy of Rs 800 for consuming 201 to 400 units of monthly electricity.
The decision, which was taken in the Delhi Cabinet meeting today, comes amid the national capital facing coal shortage, leading the state government to sound an alarm over supplying power to Delhi.
State Power minister Satyendar Jain has recently written to Union Power minister R K Singh with details of low coal stock at various thermal plants supplying power to Delhi, and urged the Centre to ensure adequate availability of coal for uninterrupted electricity supply in the capital.
However, Singh responded that the Delhi government was “misleading” the public with incorrect information about the electricity situation in the capital. He had also shared availability of coal at various plants.
