Now Reading: CAG flags Rs 42 crore subsidy paid to dormant Delhi power connections
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CAG flags Rs 42 crore subsidy paid to dormant Delhi power connections
On Friday, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta tabled a CAG report in the Delhi Assembly that found the city's power subsidy scheme paid Rs 42.26 crore to dormant connections with zero consumption between…
The Story in Brief
On Friday, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta tabled a CAG report in the Delhi Assembly that found the city's power subsidy scheme paid Rs 42.26 crore to dormant connections with zero consumption between 2019 and 2023. The audit said the scheme did not target the deserving poor but benefited almost all domestic consumers, with those using 201-400 units getting nearly 70% higher average subsidy than those below 200 units.
Other irregularities flagged include a wasteful Rs 1.05 crore on exams by Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board, and Rs 29.45 crore spent on 81 acres of land in Baprola left unused for 18 years due to frequent plan changes. The report also noted systemic lapses in tax collection and urged a shift to Direct Benefit Transfer for subsidies.
The Indian Opinion
The CAG report punctures the AAP government's proud claim of providing free power to the poor. Subsidies meant for the needy ended up disproportionately helping higher-consuming households, while dormant connections bled public money. The opposition's inevitable political attack must be tempered by the fact that such schemes are popular across party lines. The real test now is whether the Delhi government will implement a DBT mechanism to prevent wastage, as both NITI Aayog and its own finance department have long recommended.
Sources (2): economictimes.indiatimes.com, timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
