New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena has ordered a probe into the alleged irregularities in the power subsidy scheme put in place by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
Saxena’s action followed a complaint filed at the LG Secretariat, which raised issues of “impropriety and discrepancies” in the power subsidy scheme of the Arvind Kejriwal-led government, sources told news agency PTI.
Under the free electricity scheme of the AAP government, which started in 2019, domestic consumers in Delhi using up to 200 units of power per month are given a 100% subsidy. Those consuming up to 400 units are provided 50% or up to Rs 800 as a subsidy.
However, from now, those who want to keep availing subsidy need to “opt-in”.
According to India Today, the complainants have alleged that a massive scam was effected by Jasmine Shah, chairman of the Delhi Dialogue Commission, and Naveen Gupta, son of AAP Rajya Sabha MP N.D. Gupta.
The complainants include eminent lawyers and jurists, PTI reported, citing L-G office sources.
According to the sources cited above, chief secretary Naresh Kumar has been asked to conduct an inquiry into why an “order” passed by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) in 2018 to pay electricity subsidy through direct benefit transfer (DBT) was allegedly not followed.
The L-G has asked the report to be submitted within a week.
According to the Indian Express, the complainants have alleged that the AAP government, instead of recovering outstanding dues of Rs 21,250 crore on account of default in payment for power purchased by discoms (BRPL and BYPL) from state-owned power generation companies, let them (discoms) settle their outstanding dues against future payments through subsidy reimbursements.
“This amounted to a sum of Rs 11,550 crore being settled as reimbursements,” the daily reported, citing the officials in the secretariat.
The third private DISCOM in Delhi – Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited – had regularly cleared its dues of power purchased from the government and had no outstanding amount against it, the official claimed.
‘Politically motivated and unconstitutional’
Chief minister Kejriwal linked the probe to the assembly polls in Gujarat, where he is engaged in hectic campaigning, and alleged that the BJP was trying to obstruct the free power scheme of his government.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia address the media. Photo: PTI/Files
In poll-bound Gujarat, AAP has promised to make electricity free for those who use up to 300 units.
Taking to Twitter, he said AAP’s “free electricity guarantee” has been received “very well” by the people of Gujarat. “That’s why the BJP wants to stop free electricity in Delhi.”
“But have faith in me,” he said in a tweet addressed to the people of Delhi. “I will not allow your free power to be stopped at any cost.”
He also assured the people of Gujarat “your power will also be free from March 1” if the AAP forms a government there.
गुजरात को “आप” की फ्री बिजली गारंटी खूब पसंद आ रही है। इसलिए बीजेपी दिल्ली में फ्री बिजली रोकना चाहती है
Advertisementदिल्ली के लोगों, भरोसा रखना।मैं आपकी फ्री बिजली किसी हालत में रुकने नहीं दूँगा
गुजरात के लोगों, आपको विश्वास दिलाता हूँ कि सरकार बनने पर 1 मार्च से आपकी भी बिजली फ्री होगी
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 4, 2022
Meanwhile, deputy chief minister Manish Siosida on Tuesday, October 4 wrote to LG Saxena, accusing him of bypassing the elected government in Delhi and ordering inquiries into its works in a “politically motivated and unconstitutional” manner.
The AAP leader said the LG has no power to issue orders on any matters concerning the Delhi government except for land, police, and law and order.
Stating the LG has been regularly ordering probes into decisions taken by the elected government in Delhi, Sisodia alleged these inquiries were “illegal and unconstitutional”.
Nothing has come out of the probe into the “so-called” bus procurement scam, school scam, liquor scam, but it weakens the morale of officers, Sisodia said, and urged Saxena to work “according to the Constitution”.
Other allegations
After Anil Baijal’s resignation, Saxena was appointed as the LG of Delhi in May this year. Since then, he has ordered inquiries into Delhi’s government policies at least four times.
Delhi L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena. Photo: Twitter/@ChairmanKvic.
In July, LG Saxena had recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities in the implementation of the new Excise Policy.
Under the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, which was implemented in November last year, the government withdrew from the business and allowed only private operators to run liquor shops.
In the old excise policy, there were many government liquor vends, and according to deputy chief minister Sisodia, there used to be “huge corruption” in such stores. And that’s why a new excise policy was brought.
The government was set to earn Rs 9,500 crore revenue in the entire year under the new excise policy, as compared to Rs 6,000 crore in the old regime, Sisodia had said.
However, the government withdrew the new policy in July.
Last month, the LG had ordered a CBI probe into the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus procurement scam. This complaint alleged that “serious discrepancies” were made in the tender process.
The CBI is already conducting a preliminary inquiry in awarding annual maintenance contracts for the buses to be procured, the Indian Express reported. This complaint was filed last year during former LG Anil Baijal’s tenure.
The LG has also ordered another internal inquiry into the “ghost” teachers scam in Delhi government schools. The chief secretary has been asked to submit a status report withing a month.
“The LG has observed that the instances of non-existent guest teachers and embezzlement of funds are of ‘serious concern’ and cannot occur without ‘connivance of the principals/vice principals/accounts staff’,” a note from the LG Secretariat to the chief secretary said.
(With inputs from PTI)
