Thursday, February 7, 2013

DERC slaps Rs. 90,000 penalty on discom

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) has slapped a fine of Rs. 90,000 on power distribution company BSES Yamuna Power Limited for non-compliance of DERC orders. According to DERC officials, a complaint was lodged by a consumer claiming that there was a particular column in the power bill known as ‘no current period’ which, gives information about the duration when electricity was not available inside the house. However, in all the bills sent by the discom it had omitted that column, which is mandatory. 

“A complaint was filed and several hearings took place. We also issued a showcause notice to the power distribution company. After a thorough examination we found that it was indeed a case of non-compliance and a penalty was imposed,” said DERC chairman P D Sudhakar. 

BYPL has also been given a warning to adhere to all the rules and orders of the DERC. The complainant S K Maheshwari said that this is the first time that such a harsh penalty has been imposed on the discom, since the Electricity Act came into existence in 2003. 

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK

Friday, February 1, 2013

Power bills to go up for next three months : Hindustan Times

There's no escaping the price monster.

Starting February 1, you'll have to pay more for power for the next three months as the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved provisional 3% and 1.5% power purchase cost adjustment charges (PPA) for BSES and TPDDL areas, respectively, for this period. 

So, if you live in south and east Delhi (BSES areas) and consume 400 units a month, your bill will rise from Rs. 1,840 to Rs. 1,895.20. In west or north Delhi (TPDDL areas), it will go up to Rs. 1,867.60

Not a big hike. But with new tariffs for 2013 to be out in the next few months, there will be no relief.

The distribution companies - Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd, BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd and BSES Yamuna Power Ltd - had earlier this month submitted account statements on power purchased in October-December and sought 2.80%, 7.44% and 9.1% increase in electricity charges, respectively, as PPA, officials said.

"They've become dictators and have been increasing power bills every few months. The government doesn't care about the people. They plan to increase tariffs this year too," said BS Vohra of the East Delhi RWAs Joint Front.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK

बिजली थोड़ी और महंगी : Rashtriy Sahara

टीपीडीडीएल क्षेत्र में 1.5 प्रतिशत और बीएसईएस राजधानी व यमुना क्षेत्र में 3 प्रतिशत की बढ़ोतरी
नई दिल्ली (एसएनबी)। डीईआरसी ने एक बार फिर बिजली दरों में बढ़ोतरी कर उपभोक्ताओं को करारा झटका दिया है। बीएसईएस यमुना और राजधानी के क्षेत्रों में यह बढ़ोतरी तीन प्रतिशत और टीपीडीडीएल के क्षेत्रों में यह बढ़ोतरी 1.5 पर्सेट की गई है। बढ़ी दरें 1 फरवरी से लागू होंगी। बढ़ोतरी की वजह पावर एडजेस्टमेंट बताई गई है। बीएसईएस राजधानी, यमुना और टीपीडीडीएल ने पावर परचेज एडजेस्टमेंट करने के लिए डीईआरसी को 21 जनवरी 2013 को आवेदन दिया था। तीनों ने अपने आवेदन में कहा था कि लगातार बिजली उत्पादन कंपनियों द्वारा बिजली दरों में बढ़ोतरी की जा रही है। इस कारण उन पर अतिरिक्त भार पड़ रहा है।

इसलिए बिजली दरों में बिजली खरीद की बढ़ी दरों को समायोजित किया जाए। आयोग ने इन आवेदनों पर सुनवाई के बाद टीपीडीडीएल के क्षेत्र में 1.5 पर्सेट और बीएसईएस राजधानी और यमुना के क्षेत्रों में बिजली दरों में 3 पर्सेट की बढ़ोतरी कर दी है। इस बढ़ोतरी के बाद बीएसईएस यमुना और राजधानी के उपभोक्ताओं को अब 200 यूनिट तक बिजली खर्च करने पर 3 रुपए 70 पैसे की बजाय 3 रुपए 81 पैसे की दर से प्रति यूनिट बिजली का भुगतान करना होगा। 200 से 400 यूनिट तक बिजली खर्च करने वाले उपभोक्ताओं को 4 रुपए 94 पैसे और 400 यूनिट से अधिक बिजली खपत करने वालों को 5 रुपए 70 पैसे प्रति यूनिट की बजाय 5 रुपए 89 पैसे की दर से प्रति यूनिट बिजली का भुगतान करना पड़ेगा। व्यावसायिक क्षेत्रों में बिजली की दरें अब 6 रुपए 69 पैसे प्रति यूनिट हो जाएंगी। इसी प्रकार, टीपीडीडीएल क्षेत्र में 200 यूनिट तक बिजली खपत पर 3 रुपए 70 पैसे की बजाय 3 रुपए 75 पैसे, 200 से 400 यूनिट तक खपत पर 4 रुपए 80 पैसे की बजाय 4 रुपए 87 पैसे और 400 यूनिट से अधिक बिजली खर्च करने पर 5 रुपए 70 पैसे की बजाय 5 रुपए 78 पैसे की दर से प्रति यूनिट का भुगतान करना पड़ेगा। व्यावसायिक और इंडस्ट्रियल क्षेत्रों की बिजली दरों में भी 1.5 पर्सेट की बढ़ोतरी की गई है। वैसे आवेदन में टीपीडीडीएल ने 2.8 पर्सेट, बीएसईएस राजधानी ने 9.18 और बीएसईएस यमुना ने 7.44 पर्सेट की बढ़ोतरी की मांग की थी। विद्युत विनियामक आयोग के अध्यक्ष पीडी सुधाकर ने कहा कि अक्टूबर से दिसंबर 2012 की तिमाही में पावर परचेज एडजेस्टमेंट नहीं किया गया था। अगर इस बार भी बिजली की बढ़ी दरों का समायोजन न किया जाता, तो वितरण कंपनियों पर घाटे का बोझ बढ़ जाता और आने वाले समय में उपभोक्ताओं को ही इसका खमियाजा उठाना पड़ता।

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Government approves amendments on Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill 2011

- The phrase ‘connected with political parties’ to be replaced with 'affiliated with political parties’. 

- Fifth member of the Selection Committee (i.e., eminent jurist) to be nominated by the President on recommendation of the other four members of the Selection Committee, viz. Prime Minister, Speaker (Lok Sabha), Leader of Opposition (Lok Sabha) and Chief Justice of India. 

- Government has decided to exempt only such bodies or authorities established, constituted or appointed by or under any Central or State or Provincial Act providing for administration of public religious or charitable trusts or endowments or societies for religious or charitable purposes registered under the Societies Registration Act. 

- Political parties exempt from the purview of the Lokpall Bill 2011, as they are already covered under the Representation of People’s Act. 

- Lokpal can order investigation against a public servant, in case a prima facie case exists, after calling for explanation from the public servant. 

- Opportunity to be given to public servant to be heard. 

- Lokpal to have power to grant sanction for prosecution of public servants. 

- Amendments for strengthening CBI accepted, except the one which seeks approval of Lokpal for transfer of officers of CBI investigating cases referred by Lokpal. 

Whistle Blowers Protection Bill 2011 to protect identity of whistleblowers and safeguard against their victimization, passed by Lok Sabha. 

Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Bill 2011 introduced in Parliament. The Bill elaborately covers definition of ‘benami’ property and transaction, and prohibits benami transactions. 

Stringent punishment for ‘benami’ transactions under the Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Bill.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Patparganj Marg caves in again, blame game on

  Jan 21, 2013

NEW DELHI: A portion of Patparganj Marg caved in on Saturday, for the second time in a month. Interestingly, the same road was re-laid three months ago after Delhi Jal Board had repaired a water pipeline in the area. The residents have temporarily filled the pit with bricks to avoid any accidents, but the public works department (PWD) officials are yet to wake up to the situation.

"This is the second time that a portion of the same road has caved in. This shows the poor quality of the raw material used for the construction. The contractors are never penalized for doing such a shoddy job. How come they always get away, while we commuters and pedestrians have to pay the price?" asks BS Vohra, president, east Delhi RWAs Joint front.

with thanks : Times of India : LINK

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Heavy rush at Maharani Bagh - a small suggestion


Sir,
There is a severe bottle neck at Maharani bagh to smooth flow of traffic from ring road Lajpat nagar  & from Mathura road to Noida toll road etc. Due to heavy rush from both roads specially in evening,the traffic from both roads obstructs each other at Maharani bagh & traffic from both roads is able to cross Maharani bagh at a very slow speed of not more then 5 km /hr causing back pressure to all the roads  behind.Traffic moving at low speed consumes more fuel ,consumes more man hours ,creates more pollution .The slow traffic is due to more vehicles  in a narrow space obstructing each other.
This problem can be overcum by stopping the traffic from one road & allowing the traffic from other road one by one so that the traffic from one road at a time is able to attain a fast speed giving an average high speed of say 40 kms/hr  leading to clearance of much more number of vehicles per minute then if traffic from both roads moves at a low speed of 5kms/hr.Not only this the vehicles waiting will consume less fuel ,will cause less pollution & the drivers will be able to take rest for few minutes causing less accidents.
I shall feel obliged if acceptance or rejection of my suggestion is communicated to me
Dr VK Aggarwal
A-7 East of kailash new delhi 110065, 8800164455 

Sir, lakhs of public manhours are wasted due to bottleneck at maharani bagh.Traffic police has not taken any concreate measures to ease the traffic.With some efforts many manhours of public can be saved.It is kindly requested to persue the matter with concerned authorities
Dr vk aggarwal

Traffic Jam at Captain Gaur Marg


Sir ,
      
Since the closure of one road on Kalindi kunj bridge on river yamuna,there is massive traffic jam on captain gaur marg almost through out the day.It takes 45 minnutes to drive just half kilometers on this road.

The bottle neck is at Maharani bagh on ring road which gets traffic from all sides & just  momentary stopping of vehicles,or even slowing of vehicles causes massive stagnation of traffic.It is requested that the bus stop of maharani bagh is shifted to just ahead after the bifurcation  of this road  in to two ,one going to noida toll bridge & other to Nizamuddin.

Sir, this single measure may save many lakhs man hours / day & save fuel ,pollution etc
      
KINDLY do some thing urgently.
      
Thanking you
 
Dr VK Aggarwal
A-7 East of kailash new delhi 110065
8800164455 

5-storey building tilts in East Delhi : Times of India

NEW DELHI: In one month, seven complaints of buildings tilting dangerously have been received in east Delhi, reviving fears of a Lalita Park-like disaster. On Tuesday, a recently constructed house on a 40-square yard plot in Rani Garden - an unauthorized colony opposite Lalita Park - tilted by almost 2.5 inches. The five-storey structure didn't have a sanctioned building plan.

The owner of the property, Anant Jain, told TOI: "Small cracks keep developing in the buildings and we will use cement to fill them. When two buildings are constructed close to each other, it usually happens. There is nothing to worry about." Asked about the building plan, he said, "It's no secret that buildings are constructed in this area without the sanctioning of building plans. Nobody ever gets it done."

SDM of the area, Sandeep Gulati, and his team inspected the property. "We inspected the site on Wednesday and have written a letter to East Corporation to take action," said Gulati. But the municipal corporation puts the onus of keeping a check on unauthorized construction on the SDM. "These colonies come under the SDM, and they can take action individually as well. But so many times, the SDM doesn't forward us the complaints, which leads to such mishaps," said a senior corporation official.

Last month, three buildings collapsed in the area but the civic agencies are unable to check the rampant illegal construction in colonies lining the Yamuna bank. In 2010, Lalita Park made headlines due to a building collapse that claimed 70 lives. As per National Crime Records Bureau's last released figures for unnatural accidents, out of 53 cities, Delhi has experienced maximum damage by collapse of structures. In 2011, 68 cases of structure collapse were reported in which 60 people died and 75 were injured. This raises the question whether Delhi is ready for vertical growth. "The buildings are so high that they don't allow sunlight to touch the ground. The area is deprived of civic amenities but the real estate business is thriving. The corporation needs to shape up. Last week, in Lalita Park, which is some metres away from Jheel area, a building tilted but the corporation took timely action and sealed the building," said BS Vohra of East Delhi RWAs Front.

After the building collapse in 2010, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the National Institute of Disaster Management ( NIDM) had carried out a large-scale survey in trans-Yamuna areas to identify structurally weak buildings. But apart from conducting surveys of dangerous buildings in the capital, the civic agencies have done little to ensure the safety of buildings in the area. After the collapse in 2010, the erstwhile MCD and the new East Corporation have taken action against 94 properties till date. Rampant illegal construction has not only added to congestion but also made old structures more vulnerable. The walls of many houses have developed deep cracks and their foundations have become weak. But the corporation officials say even they are helpless due to acute staff crunch at the supervisory level. 


with thanks : Times of India : LINK

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

List of Senior citizens living alone in your area, to be uploaded on www.RWABhagidari.com

May we request to all the viewers of our News Letter to mail us a list of SENIOR CITIZENS living alone in their areas alongwith address & contact numbers. 

We will upload the list on our Web Portal www.RWABhagidari.com so that it could be used by various Departments, NGOs, RWAs to regularly check the well being of those Senior Citizens. It will be a great help to those living alone in various localities. 

Plz mail us details at : rwabhagidari@yahoo.in

Thanks & Regards

B S Vohra

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Delhi consumers likely to pay more for power