Rejecting the contention of private power distributors, the Delhi government today ordered a CAG audit of their finances, fulfilling yet another election promise of the Aam Aadmi Party.

“We have ordered an audit of the private power distribution companies. The CAG has said it will do the audit,” Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal told reporters after a meeting of the Cabinet which took the decision on audit.

He said the Lt Governor’s order on the audit of the companies will go to the CAG tomorrow. “From tomorrow, the audit will begin,” he said.

The Delhi Government had given time to the three companies —— BSES Yamuna Power Ltd, BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd —— till this morning to give their views on why there should not be a CAG audit of their companies.

Asked what the companies have told government, Kejriwal said they had given numerous reasons but not one reason why the audit should not be done.

“Nobody has given any reason why there should not be an audit,” he said adding the auditing will cover from the days the power distribution was privatised.

He also rejected the view that the matter was subjudice and the decision cannot be taken. “The matter has been in the High Court and proceedings are on. No stay has been granted.

Even now the proceedings can go on.”

On complaints about the defective quality of power meters, the Chief Minister said the government would approach IIT Delhi and Delhi College of Engineering for suggestion to improve the quality of meters.

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