CM Arvind Kejriwal keeps another promise, cuts power bills 50% by raising subsidy

NEW DELHI: Moving at a feverish pitch to fulfill the second most important of his poll promises, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal gave 80% of the capital's electricity consumers cause to ring in the new year with much cheer. They will be paying half of what they had to pay so far with the tariff for consumption up to 400 units a month slashed by 50%, thanks to a revision in subsidy. This will apply from January 1 to March 31, 2014, and reviewed once CAG completes its audit of the three private discoms, ordered on Tuesday by Delhi government. That will lead to a genuine reduction in tariff hopes the government. Months of speculation about how Kejriwal would deliver on his poll promise ended when the CM, after a cabinet meeting, made the surprise announcement of increasing the subsidy. "We met the CAG chief today and are trying for an audit all three private discoms. But, as per provisions of law, the three companies have been given the opportunity of filing their objections till Wednesday. Delhi government is of the view that audit of these companies can be done," said Kejriwal. But, having said that he was working on a timeline of 48 hours because he wasn't sure if his government would survive, Kejriwal announced the subsidy. "Till the audit report is done, in order to provide relief to middle-class consumers, the government will give a subsidy for reducing the tariff by 50% in the slabs of 0-200 units and 201-400 units. We are confident that once the CAG report is submitted, the subsidy will not be required."