New Delhi: Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday gave hints of providing some relief to poor consumers from the steep 26 per cent hike in power tariff after a number of Congress MPs and MLAs criticised the increase and sought steps to insulate the economically weaker section.
"We are thinking over it...The world survives on hope (ummed pe duniya kayam hai)," Dikshit said when asked whether government will provide subsidy to the poor consumers.
Dikshit`s comment came after a number of Congress MLAs and MPs joined BJP in criticising the power tariff hike and pitched in for providing subsidy to the poor consumers.
Critical of the DERC decision to hike the tariff, East Delhi MP and the Chief Minister`s son Sandeep Dikshit said Delhi government should insulate the poor consumers by providing some subsidy.
"I feel subsidy should be given to poor people... Concession should be given wherever it feels should be given," Dikshit said, adding that the "government will have to take a reasonable stand on the issue".
Slamming the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission for the "huge increase" in tariff, West Delhi MP Mahabal Mishra demanded Dikshit`s intervention to ensure rollback of the hike.
"The DERC hiked the tariff. The Delhi government has nothing to do with it. The Chief Minister should intervene and ensure roll back of the tariff," Mishra said.
DPCC president J P Agarwal also criticised the hike and said he does agree with the decision.
The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) had yesterday hiked the tariff for domestic consumers by a steep 26 per cent, which was the fourth increase in last ten months. The new rates would be effective from July 1.
For the last four years, Delhi government has been providing subsidy of Rs one per unit for domestic customers whose monthly consumption of electricity does not exceed 200 units.
Officials said as DERC announced a new tariff order, government will have to take a fresh decision as the previous notification would lapse when the new tariff comes into effect.
PTI
