RWAs up in arms over plan to hike power tariff

DERC gets an earful in its annual public meeting

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) on Wednesday held a public hearing on power tariff increase petitions filed by state distribution companies. The proposal for a hike was vehemently opposed by Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWAs) and political parties.

There has been no rise in power tariffs in Delhi in the last two years mainly because keeping the power rates low was a key agenda of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, which is providing ₹1,720 crore in power subsidy for the current financial year.

July 2014 was the last time that tariff was revised and the rates were increased by 5%. Since then, consumers pay ₹4 per unit for consumption of power up to 200 units, ₹5.80-₹5.90 per unit for 200-400 units and ₹7.30 per unit for 400 units or higher.

The meeting on Wednesday started at 9 a.m. and was attended by over 50 public representatives. The ‘Draft Business Plan Regulations, 2017, and tariff petitions’ was presented, which marks an important step in the tariff revision process, which started last month.

The final call on fare revision will be taken after the DERC goes through the suggestions of the public.

President of the east Delhi RWA,  B. S. Vohra said that instead of improving services, the discoms were in a rush to increase tariffs by displaying heavy losses in their books.

“Data shows that the growth rate of the consumers of the three discoms is around 5% to 6% per annum. Even if the peak demand is up by just 2%, there are outages across Delhi. Is this the business plan they have for the consumers?” he said.

‘It is a joke’

Saurabh Gandhi, general secretary of the United Residents of Delhi — a collective of RWAs — said that they were disappointed by the outcome of the public hearing due to the sheer apathy of the DERC towards the consumers.

“They strip people of the last penny but do not improve services. The meeting has become a joke,” he said.

Terming it a farce, the Delhi unit of the BJP boycotted the meeting while alleging irregularities by the AAP government. “Today’s hearing is a farce. It’s a big deception. There is concrete evidence of connivance of the Arvind Kejriwal government in the three power discoms of Delhi,” Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said in a statement.

with thanks : The Hindu : LINK

RWA's Condemn the Death of BSES Er. Abhimanyu Singh

It's really very sad that a BSES employee, Er Abhimanyu Singh died in an accident while saving himself from a chasing mob, in an Anti Power Theft drive, as per the news report. Four others were also injured in the accident and admitted in the hospital.

Though police version says that no one was being chased and it was a case of rash driving, DERC must come forward to investigate the entire issue and those from the power theft areas must be dealt strictly.

RWAs will prey for the departed soul with a request to DERC for a two minute MOUN, before the Public hearing tomorrow.

B S Vohra

President,

East Delhi RWAs Joint Front - Federation

RWA's Condemn the Death (MURDER) of Mr. Abhimanyu Singh by POWER THIEVES

RWA's Condemn the Death (MURDER) of Mr. Abhimanyu Singh by POWER THIEVES ...... wishing speedy recovery to others injured in performing their duty.

To

The Secretary,

DERC.

Dear Sir,

This is a sad day for Delhi, that Power Thieves are so emboldened to attack BSES Staff deputed to check Power Theft, that too under Police Protection.

WE REQUEST YOU TO PLEASE OBSERVE TWO MINUTES SILENCE BEFORE THE START OF PUBLIC HEARING to be held on 19th July 2017, to show solidarity with the bereaved family.

RWA's have for long protested the theft of Power By Vote Banks, as it affects the Tariff Structure of Honest Citizens. If the Government of the Day is unable to control such thieves then, one is tempted to suggest Snapping of Power to that area, but then that will impact the few honest Consumers in that Area.

We suggest the amount of Stolen Power should be deducted from the LAD Fund of the Theft Prone area's MP, MLA and Councillor so that Honest Citizens do not feel cheated. After all these are Vote Banks that are cultivated through such unfair means, how else do they get so emboldened?????

DERC should instruct the Centre to Redeploy CISF to protect BSES Staff in helping curb this menace.

Regards,

Rajiv Kakria

Member, GK-I, RWA

PS: Request all RWA's to send their condolence to the beareaved family through DERC.

RED FM 93.5 BAJAATE RAHO - B S VOHRA with RJ RAUNAC - BAUAA

We had demanded a Boat from the Delhi CM, for floating on the Delhi roads, during water logging, as the Delhi Assembly had announced that, drains were not cleaned by PWD. The issue was covered by Hindustan Times, DNA, Delhi Aajtak & many other agencies. Surprisingly, we got a call from the Top most RJ Raunac from Red FM 93.5, supporting our cause, and offering us an inflatable boat for the Delhi roads, during water logging. Please view the video, as below on the FB of RJ Raunac. It has got over 20 thousand views : Boat, Boat Shukriya : B S Vohra

Monsoon has come, but seems infrastructure is not yet ready in East Delhi.

Draft Parking Policy of Delhi Govt

Please refer to the advertisement inviting suggestions on draft parking policy for Capital City of Delhi.

At the outset I have serious apprehensions about the enforceability of the Draft Policy being prepared in view of the multiplicity of the authorities and lack of competence with the Department.

It is a matter of record that  the Transport Department of GNCT of Delhi has collected huge amounts every year towards one time parking charges from vehicles being registered every year towards construction/development of parkings in the Capital City that was transferred to Municipal Corporation of Delhi. However, till date we are absolutely clueless about the purpose for which said amount has been spent.

It is also matter of record the permits for Commercial Vehicles are granted on the basis of declaration by  applicant to the effect that the owner has parking space.

However, most of the Municipal parkings are occupied by such Commercial operators, instead of parking at declared space that eats away the parking space created for the visitors.

Apart from this despite Supreme Court Orders in IA No.13029/85 dated 20-11-1997, 10-12-1997 and 16-12-1997, based on affidavits filed by Transport Department, Delhi Police and Municipal Authorities that they would ensure that the extreme left of the road shall be earmarked for Bus Lane and shall not be allowed to be encroached upon.

The fact remains that the Municipal Authorities and Delhi Traffic Police have allowed and auctioned parkings on Bus Lane. Leave alone this, even the Chartered Busses  and tempos can be found parked in Bus Lane at night.

Further, it is also matter of record that both the Delhi Police and Municipal Authorities have failed to rein in the Car Dealers from encroaching upon the service lanes and foot paths all around the city. 

Traffic Police has also granted permits to Taxi Stands allowing parking on Foot Paths. 

Therefore, we have serious apprehensions on the whole exercise that is being done, without enforcing the existing provisions of parking created, while allowing multistoried complexes all around Delhi  that have been sold by the Builders and converted into shops.

First and foremost requirement is to  enforce the existing parking provisions that have been violated with impunity by one and all.

Thereafter the following steps need to be initiated without any delay:-

(a) Stop registration of vehicles till the Tour and Taxi Operators , Stage carriage bus operators and taxi stands shift to the declared space by them while applying for the prermits;

(b) Restore the parking space  that the Builders who have sold the as shops or offices;

(c) Remove the parkings from Bus bays, foot paths and service lanes and roads by the residents who have covered the parking space within buildings and park vehicles on roads

(d) Obtain the details from MCD the details of amount of one time parking charges transferred by Transport Department to MCD;

(e) Put in place a policy that till the time applicant provides certificate of possessing the parking space;

(f) Restrain the commercial entities to use the roads as parking space;

(g) Provide details of  space identified by Transport Department for developing parkings;

(h) Transport Department required about 11000 Buses way back in 2004 and till date it could not possess more than 5000 buses including cluster busses that violate all the laws on the roads. Therefore, please share the plan to achieve and acquire the required number of busses so as t encourage use  of public transport by the citizens;

(i) The Intermediate public transport system has collapsed as the TSR and Taxi drivers refuse to ply by meter and till date despite possessing ;'Khullar Committee Report dating back to 2002 wherein it was admitted that 80% of TSR are owned by Financial Cartel and corrective steps have not been taken at all.

(j) I had submitted detailed presentation on introducing technology driven solutions for enforcing laws instead  of posting Cops to chase the offenders and challan, or by hiding behind trees or poles to nab offenders, which has multiplied the corruption levels. These suggestions have not found favour till date;

(h) Sale of number plate to buyer - there is an urgent need to dispense with fresh registration everytime by owner of vehicle, which is root cause of corruption and the transport department can never have the real data of vehicles. Once a number plate is sold to any buyer. Once he/she sells the vehicle, such vehicle must be remove the vehicle from that plate and should be entered in the number plate owned by the buyer intending to buy the vehicle. This would create real time data of vehicle in the city, that would help in assessing the parking space requirement.

Further, before finalising the policy an opportunity of personal hearing may be granted to me.

In view of  the complexity of the issue and multiplicity of the authorities involved, I am marking copy of this mail to Hon'ble Lt. Governor, Delhi who is head of Delhi Police, DDA and UTTIPEC to look into the issues involved and bring all the authorities under one umbrella.

Anil Sood

Hony President - CHETNA

Parking Policy

I have already posted my response as per attachment. Delhi Government invites RWAs for discussions after it shortlists responses. 

The revered heads of the city Joint Fronts have made master pieces of their responses which should hit hard on the perpetrators of the scheme and set them thinking.

TV Channels like Mirror Now conduct debates on urban issues.  Why not the leaders of the Joint Fronts take up such issues regularly on  TV for wider awareness?

Regards,

D B Sood

RESPONSE/SUGGESTION ON DRAFT PARKING POLICY IN DELHI

The Dy. Commissioner (Operations I),

Room No: 208, 2^nd Floor,

Transport Deptt., GNCT of Delhi,

5/9 Under Hill Road,

DELHI - 110054

SUB: RESPONSE/SUGGESTION ON DRAFT PARKING POLICY IN DELHI:

Dear Sir,

Reference to your Public Notice in the Hindustan Times of today’s date, I take the opportunity to express my views as under:

I begin with a cautionary prelude that time is not far when frustration, super hypertension and road rage will drive motorists to commit suicides on roads like farmers in the fields. A total collapse of traffic management has begun to crawl in, already in sight. Over 2000 vehicles are added on the Delhi streets each day - wonder how many are shown the exit door. Car industry apparently cannot be dumped into the sea, but restraint on the speeding horse is necessary. The paradoxical situation is somewhat like patting the back and kicking in the belly. 

Car manufactures need to toe statutory warnings on cigarette packs: "Congrats for being the proud owner of this new car. By the time you change it, you would have either snuffed life out of your 100 fellow citizens or sent them to hospital beds". 

Making parking tough for motorists will have a cascading effect on the entire traffic management, including relief from traffic snarls and pollution control - the two deadly dragons overshadowing the entire spectrum of roads.

1.        Put a complete ban on parking on city main roads/highways above 60’ in width except in case of emergency or break-down, which can be prominently indicated by a reflective triangular stand supplied as an accessory with every new vehicle. Making these roads as VIP parking zones for elite who can dole out high parking charges ,will no doubt continue to keep the government’s revenue bed-rock warm, but the sole purpose of keeping roads free from obstructions would be partially achieved. Modern generation that is buying cars like never before and does not think twice before filling up petrol tanks, will soon acclimatize itself with the new parking norms howsoever prohibitive they may appear on paper. In spite of the onetime parking charges levied on new cars, people are still paying parking charges unchallenged. Moreover, it would be a daunting task for attendants to control cars parked on such long spans of unending serpentine roads with speeding vehicles of sorts. They would be risking their lives by racing up and down and missing the targets many a time. Let there be no dams in the free flow of rivers. Make these roads of 60’ and above in width NO PARKING NO HALTING zones for all types of vehicles.

2.             The paid parking scheme of 100/- per hour and Rs.50/- per subsequent hours could be applicable on roads having width between 50’ and 60’ as an experiment and for effective administration.

3.             For the present, let all Colony inner lanes below 50’ in width remain untouched by any parking scheme. The 35‘frontage of a plot of say 300 sq.yds that hitherto used to have a main gate of 10’ wide and the rest of the area barricaded by a compound wall, is now witnessing a sea change with the introduction of new building bylaws that have made stilt floor mandatory for parking. The entire frontage of such plots is now gated with compound walls preferred out. Every tenth building in residential colonies is being re-built and parking by outsiders in front of new buildings will not be possible. Parking issues in the Colony inner lanes are therefore, going to take care of themselves in a few years.

4.             Make it a norm of one car per family. It is easy to implement this by linking Adhaar card with the car Registration Certificate or by whatever foolproof means. 

5.              Investing in a car of say Rs.10L means losing interest of Rs.8T pm. and if it is driver driven, add salary Rs.10T pm. Petrol cost between Rs.5 to 10T pm. Facilitate commuters patronize OLA, UBER and the like. They work out much cheaper, are driver driven, tension free with A/C comfort, can be pooled and are constantly on the move. Creating parking yards for such taxis at odd sites like on top or the banks of open master storm water drains cutting throughout the city is not a daunting task. Smile will be retained on car manufactures as well as these vehicles would clock high mileage soon and need to be replaced within a few years.

Employment will also get a boost up.

6.             Companies, Government Institutions and the like should not provide chauffer driven company cars to their officers or staff and the practice of providing car allowance and rebates on purchase and maintenance of cars should also be abolished from the purview of Income Tax.

7.             With the city metro rail set to cover the range of kilometers from Delhi to Amritsar and buildings overlooking the tracks already declared for mixed land use, malls, health-care centres, motels, hotels, medical / education institutes, eating joints show-rooms et all are springing up at a rapid pace in these areas. With stations at an average distance of 2-3 kms, it is now convenient for citizens to hop and shop using the metro network. Public transport needs further revitalization for effective implementation sans personal vehicles.

8.             Adopt subtle means to discourage excessive use of cars by making residential Colony markets free of motorized vehicles. Reserve these areas exclusive for pedestrians and cycles. Convert wall bound Parks in  the local markets into open gardens merged with the landscape full of greenery, benches, kids modular play apparatus, open gyms, LED lights and  illuminated  advertisement boards and let the market associations maintain and secure these expanses. Vehicles running in lower gears in congested areas puff out more concentrated poisonous emissions.

9.              Government should be bold enough to remove all illegal encroachments, make-shift shrines and unauthorized kiosks, extensions in markets, from foot paths, road sides and public places for free flow of traffic. Enforce laws already lying in the closets and come down heavy on violators instead of playing politics. Why not ban plying of cycle rickshaws and the crude e-ricks in upper graded colonies? When NDMC and VIP areas can deliver results extend this example to A, B and C category colonies as a gradual expansion of traffic management that will also up the aesthetics of the city.

10.              Number of road signals need to be reduced on high profile roads causing more of harm. There are too many confusing direction boards dangling on these roads at different optic angles. All road signages should be just in two languages – Hindi, the National language and English International language. Overabundances of languages distract attention of motorists in high speed. 

11.             Schools were rightly earmarked in the Lay out Plan of every Colony like other services. We cannot uproot them now; but have to bear the worst out of the horrible situation emanating out of diesel school buses and private carriers. Accept the oft' forwarded suggestion as under:

(a)             Foremost preference to local kids.

(b)              For remaining seats extend the radius to 3 kms and stop at 5 kms max.  

(c)             Buses should load/off-load children within the school premises and all school buses should remain parked within the precincts of the schools.

With the changing times and exigencies of the situation, bitter pills have to be prescribed  and a holistic view covering all related aspects to parking have to be taken into account to achieve the goal. More colours need to be filled in a limited black and white picture.  

I have full confidence that the Delhi Government shall work in all sincerity and impartiality and that this Agenda will attain perfection with the inputs of the public that commutes on the roads night and day and can assess the situation with much more maturity.

Thanking you and with kind regards,

Sincerely,

{D.B. SOOD}  via email

Parking Policy

Dear Mr. Vohra ji,

Thanks for taking initiative to address the current but ever burning topic on parking in Delhi which is highlighted from time to time but no practical and feasible solutions are found and adopted to ensure smooth movement of vehicles and pedestrians alike! It is easy to criticise the policy being being made by the Administrative authorities concerned but practical suggestions like yours and Shri Rajiv Kakria are rate to find for consideration of the authorities concerned. Hope you are forwarding them from your side also to them! 

I give below a few suggestions to supplement yours and Shri Kakria's which may also please be forwarded to the authorities concerned:-

1. As you must have seen in the editorial col. of HT on 12th July, cities can't be decongested unless private cars are taxed more than buses. We always quote practice obtaining in certain foreign countries to fortify our argument in this respect. Notwithstanding, I totally endorse this aspect.

2. Purchase of cars should be linked with Aadhaar and Pan nos. and while doing so the purchasers should produce a certificate about the parking space availability at their residences by a nominated authority failing which they cannot purchase the same, as is obtaining in certain countries.

3. Pooling of vehicles should be encouraged and the high Govt. officials being provided independent cars for their official(unofficial too) purposes, particularly for commuting from their respective residences to office and back. As a result the number of cars on the road increases and there is no parking space for such vehicles in or around the office buildings! Why they should not be provided 'transport allowance' instead of providing independent cars to such officials!

3. Parking of vehicles on public roads, irrespective whether they are inside the colony or otherwise, should be charged on a monthly/yearly basis which on the one hand regulate the number of vehicles (may discourage too to acquire more vehicles per family, as is the practice now and mop up the revenues to some extent being earned by the authorities concerned.

4. Concentrate improving and providing more public transport vehicles - metro, local trains, buses etc. - with last mile connectivity by providing suitable vehicles like e-rickshwas, autos to reach their destinations and return too back home, which is presently lacking totally. To quote a simple example, if the local EMUs trains between Delhi/New Delhi to Ghaziabad at frequent specified timings and improve the ring railway, which lying dormant, they could carry more passengers than any other mode, like the Delhi Metro, which is getting crowded, day after day! Of course, from the respective stations 'last mile connectivity' should be ensured.

5. Encourage sale and purchase of 'smaller vehicles' instead of bigger ones by giving suitable incentives.

6. No school or hospital or nursing homes etc. should be approved unless they ensure 'suitable parking spaces' within their designated premises. The present factual position is totally absent at all such places, which anyone could see for themselves and the local Police authorities do not challan them at all, as they get their 'mamul' (which is a hefty one) on a regular basis, as they get their monthly salary. Imposing 'hefty fines' is not the solution as while the well to do people (who have flush of money) can afford but middle class and lower strata people can ill afford.

7. I could not understand one thing that the Police authorities challan all vehicles, which are, of course, due to lack of identified parking space' in front of chain of markets etc. as they have to purchase the samans and load them conveniently in their vehicles. How else they will do the shopping and take their samans? Everyone cannot afford to go to the socalled 'malls' which are usually expensive in all respects excepting getting 'air-conditioned' environment!

8. Auto rickshwas, e-rickshaws, taxies etc. should go according to meters in their vehicles and should not refuse to take any passengers, irrespective of distance and if they do so, severe punishment should be meted out. Some sort of 'discipline' should be enforced which is totally lacking in Delhi, unlike Mumbai etc. and they all fleece the passengers like anything and refuse to take them, if they are not willing to pay. This situation has to be improved a lot! Nobody is willing to move according to meters but why then they have been installed in their vehicles. In this context I would also suggest that all such vehicles should be provided with 'distance/mileage/kilometers' instead of 'fare meters' as is the present situation. The drivers should be provided with a 'fare table' according to distance travelled, which may be revised from time to time, but this should be available with every driver of such vehicles, which is easier normally to check as most of the commuters normally know the distances (approximately at least) to their destinations

There could be many more! But will you please consolidate the same and forward the same to the authorities concerned with a follow-up action, which could strengthen our suggestions and you have the (hopefully) the machinery, zeal and passion to do the same!!!

With best regards,

TK Balu/Anand Vihar

DRAFT PARKING POLICY OF DELHI GOVT : SUGGESTIONS

DRAFT PARKING POLICY OF DELHI GOVT : SUGGESTIONS

12th July, 2017

Special Commissioner Transport

Room No. 208, Second Floor,

Transport Department, GNCT of Delhi,

5/9 Underhill Road, Delhi-110054.

Dear Sir,

You can decide and Fix any parking charges for the parking of vehicles in the Markets, Commercial places, multilevel parking, to de - congest the roads and to control the pollution.

But you should never allow any Day, and / or Night parking charges from the residents for parking their own vehicles outside their own homes. Please note as below in this regard:

1.  Please note, for every sale of all such vehicles Govt has already earned a huge share in VAT, EXCISE, Registration charges, Road Tax as well the service tax on the insurance policies of these vehicles, and the Income tax from the genuine buyers. They are already earning a lot on the sale of Petrol and Diesel for all these vehicles. Even after the GST regime, they still have a huge share out of the 28% levied on vehicles.

2.  It’s sad and shocking that now Govt is eying the parked vehicles of the residents, outside their own home. They are absolutely wrong in saying that residents are using Free of charge space for parking their own vehicles, outside their own homes.

3.  When the colonies were developed years ago, prices of plots were decided on the basis of the size of inner roads in that area. The posh localities had wide inner lanes and therefore cost of plots was on the higher side. The middle / upper middle colonies had a bit smaller roads and therefore cost of plots was lesser than the posh localities. Whereas, the lower colonies had narrow lanes, and hence the cost of plots was also on the lower side.

4.  Now after 40 – 50 years, if Govt says that these colonies are using the public land Free of cost, THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY WRONG, as we have already paid the price of such inner lanes via the purchase price of our residential plots. Do you think that developers of these colonies were that much fool to offer inner lanes free of cost, causing huge losses.

5.  Moreover, there is no traffic in the inner lanes, except in the commercial areas, and no one is degrading the pedestrian environment in any way. Instead, it’s the policies of the Governments that degrade everything to levy a charge later on.

6.  Sometime Emergency vehicles face some problem while entering the inner lane, and it must be given a serious thought that how Govt can purchase such emergency vehicles that can easily enter the narrow inner lanes. But how do they think that by charging the parking charges, way for the emergency vehicles will be opened automatically ?

7.  Instead of restricting the sale of new vehicles in Delhi, Govt is now eying to earn more by way of HUGE PARKING Charges on all the vehicles parked by residents, outside their home.

8. The problem has erupted as  Govt has not formed any  vehicular policy for the sale and purchase of Vehicles. Everyone is free to buy any number of vehicles as Govt is GETTING HUGE SUMS BY WAY OF VAT, EXCISE, ROAD TAX,  SERVICE TAX and, GST NOW of 28% and that too after paying Income Tax. Why don’t they attach the vehicles with the Pan Card to check and control the sales of vehicles ?

9.  A typical vehicle stays parked 95 per cent of the time. A 2006 study by the Central Road Research Institute in New Delhi estimate that of the 8,760 hours in a year, an average car’s steering time is only 400 hours. This means it is driven for only about an hour a day. In Delhi this may be 3 to 4 hours a day. It clearly means that while parked at home, these vehicles for the 95% of time are not contributing to any Congestion or pollution.

Therefore, Govt must concentrate on the 5% time of these vehicles while they are either congesting the roads or polluting the environment and hence must levy hefty charges and penalties so that residents are forced to leave them in the parking itself.

It will automatically discourage the sale of new vehicles, though Govt may be against this policy as it will impact its own kitty. 

Therefore we are absolutely against the imposition of any parking charges from the residents, for the parked vehicles outside their home as it will lead to unnecessary harassment and chaos.

Thanks & with best regards,

B S Vohra

President,

East Delhi RWAs Joint Front

http://www.rwabhagidari.com/