Newsletter dated 10th February 2006: for distributions to all Delhi RWA Chiefs
IMPORTANT: Please note new URJA offices: URJA has expanded to two offices and two zonal support contact addresses. For the Corporate and Coordination addresses please see the top right of this page under the URJA banner, and for the rest please read below: [All post and mail may please be sent to Sheikh Sarai office.]
URJA Coordination Offices and Zonal Committees: URJA has instituted a zonal plan to provide better reach all over Delhi. For this purpose the Coordination office has been shifted to Sheikh Sarai while Zonal Coordinators have been nominated beginning with East and South Delhi. Central Delhi will be managed by Mr. Promod Chawla in his capacity as Convenor for the time being. Coordinators for the other two zones are being finalised by end of the month. These coordinators have offered to create communication hubs in their respective areas and facilitate the creation of URJA local committees in each area. You are requested to kindly contact them if you wish to be part of the committees. Role of the committee would be to consolidate public opinion, correspond with Press and TV channels and keep their localities informed of URJA actions. You may also like to discuss your specific requirements with them and avail any assistance you may require. Pl. note the contacts as follows:
South Delhi : Greater Kailash:
Mr. Rajiv Kakria
E-230, Greater Kailash Part- I, New Delhi-48.
Ph.: 2923 8933, 2924 1488. Mobile: 98102 75168
East Delhi: Mayur Vihar-III
Mr. Rajesh Dokwal
133-D, Pocket 6, MIG, Mayur Vihar Phase-III, Delhi-96
Tel: 9891475533
Central Delhi: Convenor: Mr Promod Chawla, Corporate Office address as above. Tel: 55684505, 989811170706
MCD demolitions issue: the power issues were completely overshadowed by the High Court order ordering MCD to demolish all encroachments in the city an d this has diverted the energies of most of the RWAs in the last two months. RWAs had to treat the issue very sensitively because although most agree that the law should be upheld in all cases, the fact that a number of residents became the target of MCD’s bulldozers seemed to have affected the views of RWAs on the issue.
Status of High Court order regarding Electronic Meters: The decision of the HC on giving a green signal to DISCOMS on Electronic meters in spite of castigating them for poor education of consumers and not drawing up specifications of EMs has adversely affected people who have not understood the judgement in as much that it has not cleared the liability for the party whose responsibility it was to check wiring. People’s Action ahs argued that if an agency changes technology to improve its own business practice, any misfit accruing out of that with the existing infrastructure is the responsibility and liability of the agency and not the consumer.
Appeal against HC order on power issue: URJA, through People’s Action has since sought to assist the petitioner and requested the services of Shri Sanjay Parikh, eminent advocate and a member of PUCL to present the facts to a double bench. The case has since come up for hearing on Monday 6th February and an order is awaited for relief of the common citizenry.
Revelations of Transco Expert on Electronic Meters: URJA members may remember the information issued in the last newsletter was accommodated by the Hon’ble High Court in commenting on the issue of wiring losses due to misfit with the new EMs. Mr. Choudhry has since been working closely with us and has prepared an involved paper proving conclusively that the current EMs are not fit to be termed measuring devices in their purest sense. Mr. Choudhary has since made a presentation to BIS and various other stake holders to exhibit the innate fallacy of the EM’s programming.
Invitation by Principal Secretary for meeting on Power Reforms: Mr. Rakesh Mehta, the incumbent Principal Secretary Power, Govt. of NCT of Delhi had invited Mr. Sanjay Kaul, President People’s Action and Mr. Promod Chawla, Convenor URJA to make presentations at a full day seminar held at the IHC on the 6th of February on the status of power reforms in Delhi. While Mr. Chawla explained how consumers have been cornered by DISCOMS due to inflated billing, Mr Kaul lambasted the Status Paper which was circulated by the Department for openly suggesting that everyone will have to pay more for power until theft stops. Mr. Kaul argued that this is like saying that if there is a robbery in a neighbourhood, the neighbours will be made to pay the losses. He informed the gathering of officials and stakeholders that residents of Delhi will not accept paying 50% more only to subsidise the theft the Government is unable, or unwilling, to stop due to vested reasons.
The Status paper floated by the department of Power states in Para 2, regarding power, “ If one person steals it, others have to bear the cost of the person stealing the power” and then adds, that it “ is better to pay the cost of power so that there is common sharing of stolen electricity.”
RWAs are free to make up their mind on the legality of this position or for that matter on the logic of this statement.
It is clear from the Principal Secretary’s statements that the Government of Delhi has made this a matter of policy : what someone in Ballimaran steals will now be repaid by people in Rajendra Nagar or Greater Kailash.
In a further insult to the integrity of RWAs and residents, the Status Paper in para 5 states, “ Every citizen, RWA has a duty to stop it [Power theft] by informing the authorities about it.”
Clearly the Principal Secretary’s office believes that every RWA is either in full knowledge of such theft, or hand in glove with it for refusing to share information. More importantly, since when has policing become the responsibility of RWAs and citizens? What is the Police and the DISCOM’s employees there for? Fact is, that maximum theft occurs only with the active collaboration with employees. If professionals like them can’t detect theft, how can ordinary residents and RWA members?
RWAs are cautioned against the recent reports that DISCOMS have issued letters to the same effect to residents making them directly liable for theft in there areas. All honest, right thinking residents must reject this letter as an insult to their integrity.
Delay in campaign for an enquiry into the DVB privatisation: As mandated by the resolutions of July 14th 2005 and communicated in the last newsletter, the campaign to press for a reassessment of the DVB privatisation deal had to be deferred in view of the demolitions. However, this is due to start again and you will be soon informed accordingly. However, the outline of the campaign remains the same as indicated in the last newsletter.
Campaign against 50% theft charge in tariff: Experts have agreed that the real reason for the high power bills is the undue increase in tariff ordered by the DERC on the basis of submissions made by DISCOMS. As we now know, these increases were made to subsidise losses on account of power theft. We have argued that DISCOMS cannot make honest consumers pay for the dishonesty of others by raising tariffs. This would amount to punishing an innocent man for the crime of another. Under this programme, you will be visited by a Volunteer from People’s Action or URJA with printed material for distribution in your respective localities. Kindly follow up faithfully on the programme to create enough impact on the administration and seek a withdrawal of this unjust increase in tariff over the last three years.
IMPORTANT : All-Delhi Residents Conference on Sunday 19th February: All RWAs of Delhi along with prominent citizens and residents will meet on Sunday the 19th of February to take important decisions regarding the following points:
INVITATION
United Residents Joint Action [URJA]
in association with People’s Action
invites you to the
All-Delhi Residents Conference
On the issues of encroachments, demolitions, power theft recovery through tariff fixation and other
critical issues of governance.
Date: 19th February, 2006
Time: 3 p.m.
Venue: Auditorium, India International Centre, Lodhi Road
[Kindly be seated by 3 p.m. Participation may be limited to maximum three members from each RWA for space constraints. NGOs, planners and other activists will also be joining the Conference.]