LG's consent to Delhi govt's special audit of power subsidy amount disbursed to discoms
New Delhi (PTI): Delhi LG VK Saxena has given consent to the Kejriwal government for a special audit of power subsidy amount disbursed to the distribution companies (discoms) since 2016-17, expressing "surprise" over delay in it so far, officials at the LG office said Friday.
Saxena, in a note to the chief minister, has criticised the government for not conducting the audit of Rs 13,549 crore given to the discoms over the past six years, they said.
The LG has reiterated his stand that power subsidy should be provided to the poor, pointing that amounts being given to discoms be audited to ensure non-pilferage.
He has also asked the Kejriwal government to expedite its appeal in the Supreme Court against a High Court order quashing CAG audit of discoms, which has been pending for more than seven years, officials said.
The LG and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) dispensation are engaged in a tussle over power subsidy in Delhi, with the latter alleging Saxena of trying to stop the subsidy through a conspiracy with the BJP.
The LG in his note has underlined that audit by the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) empanelled auditors cannot and should not be considered as substitute to CAG audit.
Repeating his consent and commitment to power subsidy for the poor, Saxena has iterated that such subsidies are public funds collected as revenue from the people of Delhi and it is the prime responsibility of the government to ensure that benefits reach the targeted population rather than getting pilfered for the gain of vested interests.
Allowing the proposal of the government to conduct audit through auditors empanelled with CAG, the LG has underlined that audit of huge amounts of public money should be conducted by the CAG.
The AAP government had been perfunctorily asking the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) to conduct the audit since 2015, though it could have invoked Section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003 and given binding directions to the DERC for the same, said the LG note.
However, the DERC did not conduct any audit, upon which the Power department through the Chief Secretary moved a file for asking the DERC to compulsorily carry out audit invoking the Act in December, 2022, which was turned down by the then Dy. Chief Minister and Power Minister Manish Sisodia on January 27, 2023, officials said.
The LG in his file noting to the chief minister has written, "What is even more astounding is the fact that even after the proposal to get special audit done by the DERC by invoking Section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003 was much belatedly put forward by the department in December, 2022, the same was turned down by the then Dy Chief Minister on January 27, 2023".
Expressing surprise, the LG said "..public funds to the tune of Rs 13,549 crore have not been audited for the past six years and have been passed on to private discoms without any substantive scrutiny as to whether the subsidies meant for the poor are reaching the targeted population or not."
"It has further surprised me that it has taken the government six years to finally invoke its power under section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003 to issue directions to the DERC to conduct special audit, instead of perfunctorily taking Cabinet decisions to this effect for the last six years and conveying it to the DERC, but to no avail," Saxena further noted.
The amount of Rs 13,549 crore was disbursed to the discoms from 2016-17 to 2021-22.
The government provides free electricity to people having monthly consumption of 200 units. Those using 201-400 units per month get 50 per cent subsidy capped at Rs 850.
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India, New Zealand ink free trade agreement
New Delhi (PTI): India and New Zealand on Monday inked a free trade agreement, aimed at boosting two-way commerce and investments.
The pact was signed by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and visiting New Zealand's Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay.
The FTA provides duty-free access for 100 per cent of India's exports to New Zealand, covering all tariff lines or produce categories, and is expected to significantly boost MSMEs and employment by enhancing competitiveness in labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, and processed foods.
Earlier, New Zealand maintained peak tariffs of up to 10 per cent on key Indian exports, including ceramics, carpets, automobiles, and auto components.
With zero-duty market access from entry into force as New Zealand's other trade partners, Indian products will be fully competitive in that country, enjoying a level playing field.
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Significantly, India also secured duty-free inputs for its manufacturing sector, including wooden logs, coking coal, and waste and scraps of metals, lowering production costs and enhancing the global competitiveness of the Indian industry.
On the other hand, India has offered tariff liberalisation on 70.03 per cent of tariff lines covering 95 per cent of bilateral trade value, while keeping 29.97 per cent of tariff lines excluded to protect India's sensitive sectors.
The products that are kept in exclusion are mainly -- dairy (milk, cream, whey, yoghurt, cheese etc.), animal products (other than sheep meat), agricultural products (onions, chana, peas, corn, almonds), sugar, artificial honey, animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils, arms and ammunition, gems and jewellery, copper and articles thereof (cathodes, cartridges, rods, bars, coils), aluminium and articles thereof (ingots, billets, wire bars) among others.
On 30 per cent of tariff lines of New Zealand, India will provide duty elimination on goods such as wood, wool, sheep meat, and leather-raw hides.
Similarly, 35.60 per cent of tariff lines are subject to phased elimination over 3, 5, 7, and 10 years, including petroleum oil, malt extract, vegetable oils, selected electrical and mechanical machinery, and peptones.
New Zealand products which enjoy tariff reductions include wine, pharmaceutical drugs, polymers, aluminum, iron and steel articles, and goods that only 0.06 per cent fall under tariff rate quotas, including Manuka honey, apples, kiwi fruit, and albumins, including milk albumin.
The FTA also includes a commitment to facilitate USD 20 billion in investment into India.
A rebalancing clause is incorporated into the Agreement to provide a framework for addressing any shortfall in investment delivery, thereby ensuring robust and tangible economic outcomes.
Total bilateral trade in goods and services reached USD 2.4 billion in 2024.
