New Delhi: As it completes one month in office, Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government on Friday came out with a list of its "achievements" which included slashing power tariff by 50 per cent, free water upto 20 litres per month and simplification of VAT payment among others.
On the eve of completing one month of AAP government, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that they had a good experience and government is working with full confidence.
"Last one month was spent to make reforms in the government system and exploring avenue to maximum utilize information technology. We also took major decision in last one month by deducting electricity bill by half and giving free water," Sisodia told a press conference here.
On February 25, Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi Government had announced a 50 per cent subsidy on monthly power consumption of up to 400 units and 20,000 litres of free water per month to all households that would cost the exchequer around Rs 1,670 crore annually.
He said that this water scheme has been extended to group housing societies as well and sewerage charges have been waived as well.
Government has already announced that it will revamp its anti-corruption helpline, which was launched during its earlier 49-day stint.
Sisodia said that one lakh old-age pension beneficiaries were waiting for their pension for over two years, due to verification.
"We did speedy verification on fast track basis. Now 50,000 are verified and pension of 30,000 beneficiaries is already been released and by March 31, we will transfer the amount to the rest 20,000 verified pensioners. In next two months, we will verify and release old-age pensions of other benificiaries," he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that government has also decided to bring out a White Paper on electricity commissioned under former DERC Chief Bijendra Singh.
Sisodia said that the Delhi government has decided to
allow "carry forward" of refund (input tax credit) of VAT and extend the date of filing R9 form, saying that stamp vendor license will now be online.
Seeking to keep a check on the fee hike by private schools, the Deputy CM said that last month, 200 private schools have been issued show cause notices for charging exorbitant fees.
According to the government, it has started the process of installing CCTVs in all its 1,000 schools.
The minister also said that government has so far provided licenses to 20,800 e-rickshaws in the one month.
"Anganwadi workers used to get Rs 750 per month as rent for their anganwadi premises, which have now been increased to Rs 4-5 thousand per month. Besides, anganwadi material is now being purchased straight from FCI instead of open market, surplus money is also being utilized to provide fruits to children," he said.
Speaking on the pollution level, the minister said that to check the pollution, the AAP government has conducted 66 surprise checks at pollution control centers out of which 18 were found to be not working properly.
"18 waste burning checks were also found in the open and warnings were also issued. 170 challans of overloaded vehicles was conducted, which are a major source of air pollution," he said.
"Government has decided to build various Forensic labs. Besides, Mandoli Jail will be be ready till October end. Redesigning of hospitals to increase their beds-capacity will also allow poor people access to health care," he added.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that health department has conducted surprise checks on private labs to curb overcharging of Swine Flu tests beyond a cap of Rs 4500.
