The Delhi government has set aside Rs 1,600 crore for its flagship subsidy scheme for power consumers. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, presenting the budget for 2017-18 in the Delhi Assembly, proposed Rs 2,194 crore expenditure in the energy sector, including Rs 1,600 crore for subsidy to power consumers. Under the subsidy programme, in the last two years domestic consumers using up to 400 units of electricity per month are charged at half the rate. The scheme will continue to benefit over 36 lakh domestic consumers in the national capital who come under the prescribed limit of electricity use.
The budget also highlighted the government’s steps towards harnessing solar energy and waste energy to meet the need of consumers. The solar policy of the government was notified in September 2016. The government proposed installation of solar photo-voltaic cells generating 1000 MW power in the next five years and double it by 2025. The government has approved setting up of three waste-to-energy plants in Okhla, Gazipur and Bawana. These plants will have a combined capacity of 52 MW.
Source:PTI
