New policy on power connections

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 12. Delhi's Power Minister, Dr. Narendra Nath, announced today a liberalised policy for grant of electric connections to 76 categories of household industries in residential areas. These industries could now obtain connections up to 5 KW on a single phase in all residential areas on the basis of valid municipal license.

In addition, connections could be obtained at any floor of the house, including the ground floor. An order to this effect had been issued by the Delhi Vidyut Board to concerned departments connected with grant of connection. Earlier, the power connection of only one KW was permitted to household industries in the residential areas and that too if the unit was on the ground floor.

A large number of small-scale household industries will benefit from this, as they can now earn by running a permissible household industry at any floor of the house with connection of upto five KW on a single phase.

Dr. Nath said the Delhi Government had requested the Union Urban Development Ministry for addition of 41 industries in the list of household industries given in the Master Plan. It was also proposed that the list given in the Master Plan should be considered to be of an illustrative nature and be subjected to periodical review by the Standing Technical Committee, which could be established under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary (Industries) with representatives from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and the Ministry of Industry.

This Committee could meet periodically to review the list with a view to adding or subtracting the list, depending on the developing needs of the area.

However, the Minister said the Urban Development Ministry had not accepted the recommendations and had included only six industries in the existing list of 70 household industries. Dr. Nath said the Union Government had also not accepted the request for inclusion of atta chakkies, dry cleaners and scooter repair shops in the list, as they did not cause any pollution and were necessary for day to day existence of the community. ``I would be meeting the new Urban Development Minister, Mr. Anath Kumar, soon and again take up this issue,'' he added.

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