Promising free water for all, 50% cut in power tariff and steps for providing 24-hour electricity, AAP today sought to woo voters ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls even as it downplayed Congress claiming that the real contest was between the party and BJP.

Addressing a 'Delhi Dialogue' event in Sangam Vihar in South Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal said within five years of forming the government, water supply line of Delhi Jal Board will be laid across the city and pipeline connections will be provided to the 14 lakh households that do not currently have piped water supply. "Our party's policy is air and water - the two important elements for survival - should be not charged or taxed upon...

Our party's policy is to provide free water to all. Every household would get 20,000 litre of free water a month. In next five years, we will ensure piped water to all households in the city," Kejriwal said. The party chose Sangam Vihar as its venue as the area faces acute water crisis.

"Places like Sangam Vihar have face an acute shortage of water... We will ensure that till the time every household gets piped water, water-purifiers are set up in this area. Tankers would be provided to the people by DJB... This will also put an end to water mafia," the AAP leader said. All changes in water tariff will be made need-based. Automatic tariff hike law will be repealed, he said.

"All group housing societies that are not connected with DJB supply network shall be connected with the DJB water pipes within a month of formation of AAP government. Free lifeline water provision of up to 20,000 litres a month will be extended to group housing societies too," he said.

AAP ridiculed Congress saying the party was not in the race in the Assembly polls and the real fight would be between the AAP and the BJP. Slamming the Centre for inflation, Kejriwal accused the BJP government of taking U-turn on all its poll promises. The former Delhi chief minister said if his party came to power it would bring in a law that will ensure audit of power discoms. "We also intend to make good use of solar power, as has been done in Germany, to overcome the power crisis in the capital. People would be encouraged to set up systems to use solar power instead of conventional energy sources. For this, our government would provide subsidies. The surplus power can also be sold off to generate income," Kejriwal said.

The Aam Aadmi Party also batted for rain-water harvesting to overcome water crisis in the city and talked of conserving the fragile ecosystem of the Yamuna river. Strenuous efforts will be made to revive the Yamuna. Absolutely no encroachment will be allowed and no untreated water, industrial or domestic sewage will enter into the river. AAP also assured to expedite pending work on Munak Canal. "A strong push will be made to get extra 80 million gallons of water per day from Munak Canal, which will provide water to 20 plus areas including Sangam Vihar, Deoli, Mehrauli, Ambedkar Nagar, Tughlakabad, Chhatarpur, and Dwarka," the party said.

Taking a dig at the BJP for not "fulfilling its promises" of slashing electricity rates by 30%, Kejriwal said his party would reduce the electricity tariff by 50%. "The BJP promised to slash electricity tariff by 30% in the last Assembly elections but in last six months the Delhi administration, controlled by the BJP, has increased the tariff by 15%," he alleged, and promised, "After coming to power, we will reduce the tariff by 50%." "High electricity tariff in Delhi is due to malfunctioning of power discoms. We will come up with a law that will compel the discoms to get their audits done annually," he said.

"AAP will take steps to ensure 24-hour power supply by coming up with new power stations, either in Delhi or outside," he said. Talking about water-harvesting, Kejriwal said, "The party plans to build small lakes on the banks of Yamuna so that during floods, the excess water can be diverted there. Experts say, this water can be used for 100 days to quench the thirst of Delhi people."

Flood plains shall be conserved and no concretisation and construction will be allowed and plans will be made for afforestation and natural beautification of the banks, he said. On water distribution system, he said, the concept of 'Jal Swaraj' will be promoted to ensure citizen-based water governance and management. "Jal Swaraj Samitis will decide on community specific solutions and promote water conservation, recycling and rainwater-harvesting," he said.