Date:13/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/13/stories/2008041353190400.htm

New Delhi

Row over sub-station at Games Village

Smriti Kak Ramachandran

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Government’s proposal to set up a sub-station for ensuring round-the-clock supply of power for the Commonwealth Games Village has run into rough weather with its agencies squabbling over who will foot the bill for the installation.

Power distribution company BSES, in whose area of operation the Games Village falls, has refused to part with its money for setting up the sub-station. It has instead asked the Delhi Development Authority to bear the expenses.

With the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission too toeing the discom’s line, the matter has now been referred to a committee set up by Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta.

According to sources in the Government, the BSES contention that DDA should pay for the setting up of the 56/11 kV substation has not gone down well with the Power Department. The DERC decision to side with the discom has made matters worse.

“The Power Department wants the discom to pay for the installation, seek depreciation charges and show it as its capital expenditure. After all once the Games Village is occupied and people begin consuming electricity, it is the discom that will collect the tariff and earn money,” said a source.

“The discom has refused to abide by the procedure and wants to make no investment in the sub-station. The DDA for its part has allotted the land to the Government, which in turn will give it to the Power Department and the discom at a premium,” he explained.

With no headway in sight and time running out, the Chief Secretary has directed a committee headed by Delhi Power Secretary Rajinder Kumar to “sort out the matter”. Mr. Mehta told T he Hindu, “The matter is being examined by a committee and I have set forth a time limit of one month to resolve the issue.”