Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has been asked to draw up a long-term plan to improve the transmission and distribution infrastructure in the Capital, Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy, said on Monday.
Goyal was speaking to reporters after meeting the Bhartiya Janata Party’s members of Delhi’s Legislative Assembly to take stock of the power situation in the Capital.
Last week, the Minister had blamed the Capital’s power woes on the lack of work done to improve the transmission and distribution infrastructure by the previous Delhi Government led by the Congress’ Sheila Dixit.
Goyal also said that all the projects announced by the Power Ministry last week to provide temporary relief to Delhi are on track for completion within the deadlines.
“The temporary restoration of Bamnauli-Papankalan and Bawana-Rohini transmission lines is complete and the Mandola-Gopalpur line will be complete by 3 p.m. on Monday,” Goyal said.
"One of the most challenging projects is the completion of the Maharani Bagh-Ghazipur line," he added.
"Normally, such projects take six to eight months for completion since it is on the river bank, but Power Grid Corporation of India has said that they will be able to complete the work by June 22."
Nearly 600 employees of Power Grid Corporation are working across six sites in New Delhi to finish the projects on time.
Action against Discoms
Apart from this, the Power Minister said that the Delhi Government has also sent notices to Delhi’s power distribution utilities (Discoms) who have worked the least to improve the transmission and distribution infrastructure in the city. Goyal did not elaborate further on the move but said that strict action will be taken against the Discoms who have not worked.
The BJP’s MLAs from Delhi had recommended steps such as cutting of branches hanging over wires, shutting down alternate street lights and dimming the lighting on the Capital’s historical monuments as measures to provide further relief to the Capital’s power shortage which has affected East Delhi most severely.