Sheila Dikshit's solution to high power bills: Use as much as you can afford

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's remark that people should consume less electricity if they want their power bills to remain low, drew strong criticism from Opposition BJP on Sunday.

With Dikshit justifying the power tariff hikes, saying uninterrupted electricity came at a cost, the BJP alleged she was "working for the power distribution companies" and not for the people of Delhi.

Addressing a public rally in Chhattarpur on Sunday, Dikshit said: "If one consumes electricity for 24 hours, then one should not expect a bill for five hours consumption. If you cannot afford the electricity bill, then cut down your consumption of electricity."

She said if electricity bills were too high, people should cut down on number of electrical appliances.

Dikshit suggested that power consumption should be proportional to the household income. "If somebody's bills are too high then they must control consumption. They can use a single fan or cooler instead of more, or one light bulb instead of two. One can always cut down consumption of power to limit the bill," she said.

The Chief Minister said future generations would not even know of seven to eight hours power cuts in the city.

In the recent months, Dikshit has been under fire for Delhi's power tariff, which has been hiked three times in as many years — 22 per cent in 2011, 26 per cent for domestic consumers in 2012 and 3 per cent from February 1.

Dikshit claimed the increase in the cost of power production has led to the rise in electricity rates, BJP and Aam Aadmi Party said the Congress government favoured discoms and alleged a nexus between the two.

Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel criticised Dikshit saying, "Today, we have been asked to stop using electricity, tomorrow we will be stopped from using water as well."

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