The Delhi government made an announcement that the power subsidy for nearly 46 lakh families in the national capital will end on Friday because Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has not cleared the file to further extend the subsidy to them.
The AAP government in Delhi provides free electricity to consumers with 200 units of monthly consumption. Those with 201 to 400 units of consumption per month get a 50 percent subsidy capped at Rs 850.
Atishi, the minister of Delhi Power, asserted on Thursday that she was not getting an appointment with the lieutenant governor to discuss the matter of power subsidies, which benefit a huge number of consumers in the city. Many people might be deprived of the benefit because the file has not yet been turned over to the city government.
However, the Lt. Governor’s office described her assertion as “misleading and false” and claimed that her request for an appointment was being “actively considered.” In response to her assertion, the LG office stated, “Again, the power minister is making false and deceptive claims on his or her behalf.
Atishi had earlier claimed that the BJP and Lt. Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena were engaged in a “conspiracy” to halt subsidies for the free power programme run by the Arvind Kejriwal government. She wrote to Saxena and expressed how “deeply distressing” it was that the Lt. Governor did not grant time to a minister of an elected government.
She wrote in a letter, “I would like to request the Lt. Governor clear the file soon so as not to upset lakhs of homes in the NCT of Delhi.” She expressed her anxiety about the BJP ‘trying to end’ the ongoing electricity subsidy.
Atishi went on to say that she repeatedly sought time from the LG office to meet LG Saxena as soon as possible and requested to give her just five minutes.
As per the official figures, over 48 lakh out of more than 58 lakh domestic consumers have requested for power subsidies. The AAP government announced Rs 3250 crore for power subsidies in its budget for 2023–24.