No hike in power tariff for domestic, agricultural consumers

New Delhi, Feb 22 (UNI) Setting at rest speculation about a hike in power tariff in the capital city, the Delhi Cabinet today committed to grant subsidy to freeze power tariff for domestic and agricultural power consumers at the level of 2004-05.

In a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, the cabinet reiterated its decision to extend subsidy of Re one per unit to those consumers who will contain their monthly consumption up to 150/200 units in non-peak and peak months respectively, a measure that is likely to benefit over ten lakh consumers. The peak months are -- May, June, July, August in Summer Season and December and January in the Winter Season.

Briefing mediapersons after the Cabinet Meeting, the Chief Minister, setting at rest speculation about any hike in power tariff, said the Government had committed to granting subsidy to freeze power tariff for agricultural and domestic consumers, which would remain same at the level of 2004-05.

Ms Dikshit, along with Power Minister A K Walia, expressed confidence that the benefit of this subsidy would mostly percolate down to economically weaker sections and poor families. Over 10 lakh families would be charged one rupee less per unit, that is Rs.1.20 per unit during six months of the year.

This would not only provide relief to those poor families whose consumption is limited but also exhort others to conserve electricity at large by limiting their consumption to remain within the eligibility criteria for availing subsidy.

This decision would come into force from April 1.

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