New Delhi: Delhi’s Power Minister, Ashish Sood, has indicated a possible increase in electricity tariffs, attributing the necessity to a substantial ₹27,000 crore debt inherited from the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
This debt, accumulated through the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC), is owed to power distribution companies (discoms).
Responding to a query from AAP MLA Imran Hussain during the Delhi Assembly session, Minister Sood highlighted that discoms are authorized to adjust rates to recover outstanding amounts. He emphasized that during the prior administration, the Delhi High Court had mandated DERC to issue a tariff order, but the government failed to protect public interests.
“The previous government has left a debt of ₹27,000 crores of regulatory assets with the discoms through DERC. To recover this, the companies are authorized to increase the electricity rates,” Sood stated.
“During the tenure of the previous government, on the orders of the High Court, DERC was ordered to bring tariff orders. That government could not protect the interests of the public. In the coming time, electricity prices will rise, and perhaps some people even want this for their political gains. However, the government remains in touch with DERC and is closely monitoring the situation,” he added.
Opposition Criticizes Unfulfilled Promises
In a related development, former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Atishi criticized the BJP-led central government for not delivering on its promise of providing ₹2,500 financial assistance to women. She expressed hope that the ruling party would fulfill its commitments during the ongoing Budget Session.
“The BJP made a lot of promises before the elections. We hope that those promises are fulfilled in this budget session. The first and most important promise was that Delhi’s women would receive ₹2,500 on March 8. Till today, even the registration of that scheme has not started. It is clear that PM Modi lied and betrayed the people of Delhi,” Atishi remarked.
“We hope the people of Delhi are not betrayed in this budget,” she asserted, ignoring the debt of ₹27,000 crore by DERC.
Budget Session Commences with Traditional ‘Kheer’ Ceremony
The five-day Budget Session of the Delhi Legislative Assembly commenced on March 24, with a traditional ‘kheer’ ceremony, symbolizing sweetness and progress. CM Rekha Gupta, who also holds the finance portfolio, prepared the ceremonial dish, marking a unique start to the financial proceedings.
This session holds historical significance as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has returned to power in Delhi after 27 years. The state budget is scheduled to be presented on March 25. During the session, CM Gupta will move a motion for the election of financial committees, including the Committee on Public Accounts, Committee on Estimates, and Committee on Government Undertakings, marking an important step in the assembly’s financial governance.
Additionally, discussions are set to continue on critical civic issues such as water shortages, waterlogging, sewerage blockages, and desilting of drains in Delhi, reflecting the assembly’s commitment to addressing key urban challenges.
The Budget Session is scheduled to run from March 24 to March 28, 2025, with provisions for extension if required. The outcomes of this session are anticipated to have a significant impact on Delhi’s administrative and financial landscape.
