New Delhi: Delhi Power Minister Ashish Sood on Thursday accused Leader of Opposition Atishi Marlena of allegedly spreading โfalse claimsโ about power cuts in the national capital, asserting that the government is committed to ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply.
Addressing a press conference, Sood alleged that Atishi was misleading the public by claiming there were no power outages during her tenure as Power Minister in the previous government. He cited data showing that over the past decade, Delhi recorded 51,958 instances of power cuts exceeding five hours, averaging 14 such outages daily.
โLegal consultation is underway for strict action against those spreading misinformation and disrupting peace,โ Sood said, hinting at possible action against opposition leaders under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The minister presented meeting minutes from May 2023, when Atishi was in office, which reportedly showed power companies flagging prolonged outages in areas like Saket, Alaknanda, and Begumpur. He claimed that Atishi had sought reports on these disruptions but was now denying their existence.
โIf they claim there was not a single minute of power outage during their tenure, it means they neglected maintenance entirely,โ Sood alleged, targeting Atishi and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal.
However, he acknowledged that scheduled outages are necessary for maintenance and assured that the current government would inform residents in advance. Sood also outlined measures to upgrade infrastructure, including replacing transformers and clearing tangled overhead wires.
Delhiโs peak power demand this summer is projected to reach 9,200 MW, up from last yearโs 8,600 MW. The minister said the government was reviewing power purchase agreements and setting up a control center to manage the load.
Atishi and AAP have yet to respond to the allegations.
