BJP ups the ante on grim power situation
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03/04/2008
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Hindu
In the face of severe criticism from the Opposition on the issue of power distribution, supply and billing, Power Minister A.K. Walia on Wednesday defended his Government saying "it does not support any company and has repeatedly warned them'. Dr. Walia said action would also be taken against the discoms wherever found necessary. Speaking at the end of a short duration discussion initiated by Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan on the "continuing grim power situation', Dr. Walia said the fact of the matter was that Delhi had faced its worst time in terms of power supply during the BJP rule in 1993 to 1998. With privatisation, which the Opposition has vehemently criticised, he said the power situation has indeed improved. "The Aggregate Technical and Commercial losses have come down from 52 per cent to 32 per and the target is to bring them down to 17 per cent by 2010. Also, the distribution of power has improved in general through replacement of equipment such as transformers and 29 lakh mechanical meters with electronic meters,' he said. Pointing out that power theft has come down to a just 26 per cent now, the Minister said this was also reflected in the balance sheets of the discoms of whom two