Delhi government may move court for final CAG report on discoms

NEW DELHI: Delhi government is likely to move court seeking expeditious finalisation of a report by CAG on finances of private power distribution companies and make the findings public so that electricity tariff can be reviewed.

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

Power Minister Satyendar Jain refused comment on the issue saying the matter was sub-judice.

A top official said the government will wait for the final CAG report before proceeding in the matter, adding it has received only a draft report. He, however, asserted that tough action will be taken against the guilty.

"Government is exploring the legal opinion to move the high court to ensure early finalising of the CAG's report and make it public as soon as possible," the official said.

He said government will slash the tariff drastically if the report on discoms duping consumers by almost Rs 8,000 crore and they having a healthy financial condition was correct.

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party asked the city government to take steps to publish the CAG findings at the earliest and rationalise electricity tariff based on them.

"The Delhi government should take steps so that the CAG report is made public at the earliest as whatever is known today is only through media reports. It should initiate criminal investigation in the case, prosecute the guilty, and recover the public money," AAP spokesperson Deepak Bajpai told reporters.

A BSES spokesperson said the media report on CAG findings "tantamount to blatant contempt of the order of the Delhi High Court, which has put a blanket prohibition on publication of any CAG audit report as the matter is sub judice."

He said that the audit process is still not completed, and hence, it was premature to allege that the CAG has arrived at any adverse conclusions against the discoms.

Asked about government's possible action if CAG finds the discoms guilty, a top Power Department official said government will act tough and persons found guilty will have to face an action.

Lashing out at the discoms, AAP Delhi unit secretary Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed, "BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) duped the people of Delhi by Rs 1,062 crore, BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) of Rs 860 crore and Tata Power-DLL (TPDDL) of Rs 1,098 core."