Govt not patronising power companies: Walia

New Delhi, Sep 10 (UNI) Refuting allegations of the Opposition Bhartiya Janata Party that Delhi Government was patronising power distribution companies, or Distcoms, Delhi Power Minister A K Walia today said the state Government was making all-out efforts to ensure a round-the-clock supply of power in the city.

Replying during Question Hour on the opening day of the monsoon session of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, the last session of the present House before the forthcoming elections, Dr Walia said,''The Delhi Government has been making all possible efforts to ensure that every area of the city gets a 24 hour power supply. Infact, the power distribution companies have been told that there should be no power cuts in the city.'' Informing that the ongoing power cuts in the city were necessitated by low frequency on the Central power Grid, Dr Walia said,''due to low frequency of the Central Power Grid, it is sometimes not possible for us to overdraw power from it and effect cuts in some areas.

However, even in that case, the power cuts are not carried out in all parts of the city. A schedule has been laid down whereby loadshedding is to be done for a certain period in some areas whenever the frequency level on the Central Grid drops.'' At the same time, Dr Walia expressed optimism that the situation would improve in the coming months.

''Some plants which are presently shut down will begin operations shortly, thus making available additional power in various areas,'' Dr Walia said.

Dismissing the opposition allegations that power and water situation in Delhi had worsened under the present Government, Dr Walia said,'' There has been a vast improvement in the power situation in Delhi from the scenario between 1993 and 1998.'' In Reply to another question, Dr Walia said the BHEL power plants in Bawana in North East Delhi would begin operations by the year 2010.

Earlier, as soon as the House began proceedings of the Question Hour, Leader of the opposition Jagdish Mukhi demanded that there be a discussion on the Power and water situation.

''The Sheila Dikshit Government has failed miserably in ensuring adequate power and Water to the citizens of Delhi, a basic requirement in any city,''Prof Mukhi said.

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