NEW DELHI: Criticizing wasteful expenditure, Delhi Power Minister Satyendra Jain today asked discoms to cut down electricity rates, which were affecting poor people.
Inaugurating BSES Yamuna Power’s 33/11 KV grid sub-station on Deen Dayal Upadhaya Marg in central Delhi, Jain rued that he was receiving complaints about false charges and inflated bills.
“Poor people living in rural areas are most affected.
Maximum cases are of false charges and inflated bills. Power distribution companies should focus on their infrastructure.
Power cut should not happen due to poor infrastructure in the city,” he said.
“All pending cases should be settled once and for all so that we don’t waste our energy in dealing with it. A new simple grievance redressal system should be developed by discoms,” he suggested.
Jain commended the Rs 20 crore sub-station, which has an initial capacity of 50 MVA and can be augmented to 75 MVA.
“The infrastructure of this sub-station is very good. It will have more life but they (discoms) should make similar infrastructural arrangement across the city. Delhi is a modern city, so we should make modern infrastructure so that in the long run we will be able to save money,” Jain said.
However, he criticized expenses made by the company for the inauguration event.
“The amount of money spent on decoration of inauguration program should be utilized on infrastructure so that public get benefit. If you are spending one lakh for the inaugural function, then manage it in Rs 10,000 and utilize the rest Rs 90,000 for public work.
“I am against wasteful expenses. There is no need to put up swanky tents for the inauguration. I estimate around Rs 5 lakh must have been spent after the function. Finally public will have to pay this money,” he noted. .
Calling current system opaque, Jain stressed on developing transparent system in electricity distribution and billing and urged discoms to reduce electricity rates in the city.
“I request power companies to increase their efficiency and check wasteful expenses so that rate of power can be brought down,” he said.
Environment Minister and MLA from Matia Mahal, Asim Ahmed Khan welcomed the sub-station and claimed it will be boon to lakhs of people living in his constituency.
“People living in my constituency will be highly benefited with the start of this sub-station. Minto Road area is very famous but it was very backward, there are many hospitals here but large number of people lives in slums. Electricity problem is acute in the area. I hope now we won’t have to face such problem,” Khan said.
According to BSES officials, the distribution capacity in Daryaganj area, which is fed through 5 separate 33/11 grid sub stations namely Jama Masjid, Minto Road, Kamla Market, GB Pant Marg and Delhi Gate, is 279 MVA.
Commissioning of the new sub station would add another 50 MVA to the area, taking the total capacity to 320 MVA.
The grid will supply electricity to 30 distribution transformers in the area. Over 20 km of underground cable has been laid during the construction of the grid.
To ensure uninterrupted power supply and to take care of any unforeseen eventualities, this sub-station is equipped with the next-generation distribution technologies, BSES officials claimed. -PTI
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