Congress today warned against any possible hike in power tariff, saying it will launch a massive agitation if the rates are increased by power regulator DERC, coming under pressure from private power distribution companies.
Senior Delhi Congress leader Mukesh Sharma said this while holding a protest at the Siri Fort Auditorium where Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission held a public hearing on reviewing the power tariff.
The electricity regulator has already given indication of a hike in tariff.
"We will launch a massive agitation in the city if the electricity rates are hiked again. We will gherao the Prime Minister's residence as well as Raj Bhawan," Shrama said. He was later detained by police for violating prohibitory orders.
Sharma said in BJP will be held responsible in case of any hike as the city is under central rule.
"Delhi is under central rule and BJP is the ruling party at the Centre. So BJP will be responsible for any hike in tariff," he said.
The former MLA from Uttam Nagar also regretting hiking power tariff for so many times during 15-year rule of Congress and accused the private discoms of "looting people".
"Forgive us if we made any mistake. The discoms are looting people and we will not tolerate any more hike in tariff," he said.
A number of organisations and individuals, who participated in the hearing opposed any hike in tariff.
The power tariff in the city was hiked by 22 per cent in 2011 followed by five per cent hike in February 2012. The tariff was hiked by up to two per cent in May 2012 year and again by 26 per cent for domestic consumers in July 2012
The tariff was hiked by up to three per cent in February last year and again by five per cent in August last.
It was hiked by up to eight per cent in January this year.
Demanding a significant hike in tariff, the discoms have been arguing that cost of buying power has increased primarily on account of an increase in the input prices of raw material like coal and gas.
As per official figures, around 80-90 per cent of total revenue of discoms goes into purchasing power from central and state government owned entities through long term power purchase agreement, at rates determined by the central and state regulators.
The AAP government in January had announced providing 50 per cent subsidy on power consumption up to 400 units. But the subsidy came to an end on March 31.
