Delhi government orders CAG audit of private power companies

New Delhi: Rejecting the contention of private power distributors, the Delhi government today ordered a CAG audit of their finances, fulfilling yet another election promise of the Aam Aadmi Party.

"We have ordered an audit of the private power distribution companies. The CAG has said it will do the audit," Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal told reporters after a meeting of the Cabinet which took the decision on audit.

He said the Lt Governor's order on the audit of the companies will go to the CAG tomorrow. "From tomorrow, the audit will begin," he said. The Delhi Government had given time to the three companies -- BSES Yamuna Power Ltd, BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd -- till this morning to give their views on why there should not be a CAG audit of their companies.

Asked what the companies have told government, Kejriwal said they had given numerous reasons but not one reason why the audit should not be done. "Nobody has given any reason why there should not be an audit," he said adding the auditing will cover from the days the power distribution was privatised. He also rejected the view that the matter was subjudiced and the decision cannot be taken.

"The matter has been in the High Court and proceedings are on. No stay has been granted. Even now the proceedings can go on." On complaints about the defective quality of power meters, the Chief Minister said the government would approach IIT Delhi and Delhi College of Engineering for suggestion to improve the quality of meters. 

Kejriwal said there had been constant demand for auditing of the private power distribution companies and the previous government was "misleading" the people saying the matter was in the court.

"What the previous government could not do in four years, we have done in four days," he said. Asked about BJP leader Arun Jaitley's criticism that his government was taking populist measures with short term objective, Kejriwal said people can argue about the quantgity of water to be supplied free but any civilised government has a duty to provide it.

When told that the Congress government in Haryana has slashed power tariffs and a Congress MP in Maharastra was pleading for reducing tariff on the lines of the AAP government, he said "I am very happy".

"We will teach them politics," he added with a chuckle. Asked about BJP's criticism that he was keeping mum on the 'corruption' of the previous Congress government after coming to power, he shot back "let Harsh Vardhan send details.

We will immediately take action." Yesterday, Kejriwal had announced 50 per cent subsidy to thsoe consumers whose monthly consumption does not cross 400 units.