Delhi govt may move court to make CAG discom report public

Delhi's AAP government is contemplating approaching the court in the wake of reports quoting CAG findings that the three private discoms - Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited, BSES Rajdhani, BSES Yamuna Power - have inflated their dues by almost Rs 8,000 crore to be recovered from consumers besides other alleged irregularities.

The Delhi government is likely to move court to vacate the stay on making the CAG report on finances of the three private distribution companies public.

Sources in the government said once the CAG report is tabled and made public, the government will take strict action against the power distribution companies. According to a senior Delhi government official, the power department is likely to take up the matter of reducing power tariff in the capital.

"The power regulator is in the process of announcing the tariff revision for the financial year 2015-16 and it would probably be the first time that a tariff hike might not be done,” said a senior government official.

The government is contemplating approaching the court in the wake of reports quoting CAG findings that the three private discoms have inflated their dues by almost Rs 8,000 crore to be recovered from consumers besides other alleged irregularities.

However, power minister Satyendar Jain refused to comment on the issue, saying the matter was sub-judice. According to a senior official, the department will wait for the final CAG report before proceeding in the matter. The official, however, said they have received only a draft report. Sources said that once the report is finalised, an assembly session can be convened to table the report,

“The government is taking legal opinion before move the high court to ensure early finalising of the CAG’s report and make it public as soon as possible,” said a senior official.

The official said the government will slash the power tariff drastically if the report about the alleged irregularities in the account books of the discoms’ finances turn out to be true.

When quizzed about the possible action that could be taken against the discoms, a senior power department official said government will act tough and the guilty will have to face action.