BJP protests against high power tariffs in Delhi

New Delhi, Mar.21 (ANI): Activists of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday staged a protest outside the office of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) here over the hike in power tariff.

BJP leader Vijay Goel accused the government and the Director of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission of being hand in glove over the irregularities.

"In the last 24 months, the government along with the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission has raised electricity tariff eight times. They have burdened the people by raising the tariffs by 60 percent, but Gujarat has not raised the tariffs at all. All this is happening because the director of DERC (Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission) which is an independent committee is involved with the electricity companies," said Goel

The demonstrators damaged the gates of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission office and accused the government for inflated power bills.

Giving an ultimatum to the Congress party, Goel added that if the BJP is voted to power they would reduce the power tariff.

"We have given them an ultimatum demanding reduction in electricity tariffs. We have said that if BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) comes to power, the electricity tariffs will reduce by 30 percent, but if this government want, they can also reduce the prices," said Goel

Earlier, social activist turned politician Arvind Kejriwal had accused the Delhi government of having nexus with power distributors in the state and accused Sheila Dikshit of increasing electricity fare to benefit these companies, despite Delhi Electricity Board Regulatory Commission ( DERC ) recommendation to reduce it.

India's electricity distribution and transmission is mostly state run, with private companies operating in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. Less than a quarter of generation is private nationwide.

More than half the country's electricity is generated by coal, with hydro power and nuclear also contributing.

Power shortages and a creaky road and rail network have weighed heavily on India's efforts to industrialise. (ANI)