CAG scrutinising accounts of discoms

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has started scrutinising accounts of the three private power distribution companies amid their confrontation with the Delhi Government over a number of issues.
Sources in Power Department said the CAG has already taken large volumes of documents from the three companies -- BSES Yamuna Power Ltd, BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd and Tata Power Delhi Delhi Distribution Ltd -- in the last few days.
The government on January 1 had announced its decision to recommend CAG audit of the finances of the three companies, expressing doubts over their claim of fund crunch.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party had alleged huge financial irregularities by the three discoms.

The discoms had challenged government's decision to order CAG audit in Delhi High Court but the court had refused to stay it.
The discoms and the new AAP dispensation have been at the loggerheads on a number of issues and BSES Yamuna Power Ltd had yesterday said that areas in east and central Delhi face a blackout risk from Saturday it does not have money to buy power.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused BSES discoms of trying to "blackmail" the government by threatening power cuts upto 10 hours a day, and warned them of strict action including possible cancellation of licenses. "They are not cooperating in CAG audit, which raises further suspicion," he said.

Earlier this month, BSES discoms asked the government to take over the control of selling surplus power in the city and rejected any wrongdoing in the matter.
The companies had also rejected allegations that they did not pass on financial benefit on account of bringing down AT&C losses to consumers, claiming it was negated by rise in power purchase cost.