Cong MLA sits with 'begging bowl' for power tariff reduction

New Delhi, Aug 13 (UNI) Congress MLA Mukesh Sharma today sat with a begging bowl at the Delhi Secretariat to ''make up for the alleged losses of the private power companies'' and demand immediate reduction in domestic power tariff.

The "begging bowl agitation" by Mr Sharma attracted a huge crowd of people having grievances against power companies besides a number of Congress MLAs, MPs and Municipal councillors.

Mr Sharma was later taken into custody by the police as a precautionary measure.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Sharma, who is also the chairman of the Khadi and Village Industries Board, said the power situation in Delhi was worse than it was during DESU's time with unauthorised colonies, poor peoples' streets and villages facing upto 15 hours power cuts daily and eevn honest consumers were being fleeced by power companies.

He alleged that the private power companies had made huge profits during the last five years, half of which (as per an agreement with the Delhi Government) should have been shared with the consumers to provide them relief.

But the power companies pocketed the entire amount without giving any relief to the consumers, he added.

Mr Sharma warned the power companies that unless it reduced the power tariff and withdrew by August 15 the petition to the DERC for increasing power tariff, he would intensify his agitation.

UNI