NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party ’s popularity during the last assembly elections had a lot to do with its focus on free water and cheaper electricity. This year, both issues have found their way to the series of dialogues it has conducted with Delhiites and will form a major component of the party’s manifesto.

The party unveiled its agenda on ‘paani, bijli’ in Sangam Vihar on Monday, an area where water is a highly sensitive issue, given its scarcity. It has reinforced its pledge to slash power bills by half and provide 20kl of water free to each family while also promising reforms to the water tariff system and making Delhi a “solar city”.

“The party will provide free lifeline water to each household every month. Unlike last time, those group housing societies not connected with the Delhi Jal Board supply network will be connected within a month. Within five years, more than 14 lakh households which do not have piped water supply right now, will also be connected to DJB’s network. A time-bound plan of action will be made for each area, irrespective of its legal status,” said party chief Arvind Kejriwal.

The plan also includes making 80 MGD from Munak Canal available, for which Delhi high court has already issued orders to Haryana. With this additional water, supply will be made available to areas like Sangam Vihar, Deoli, Mehrauli, Ambedkar Nagar, Tughlaqabad, Chhatarpur and Dwarka. Public hydrants and hand pumps will be installed along roads and JJ colonies.

The party has also proposed to abolish category B in DJB’s tariff structure, under which small shop owners have been paying commercial tariff. As per AAP ’s plan, they will pay domestic charges and also be eligible for the free 20kl of free water. The annual automatic increase in water tariff will also be done away with. On Yamuna, the party says that no encroachments will be allowed and no untreated water will enter the river. The flood plain will be conserved and no construction permitted. On power, other than round-the-clock supply within five years, the party has asked for an annual audit of discom’s accounts and no tariff hike till the audit is complete.

“Delhi government will set up its own power plants that will be fuel-efficient. A Delhi specific solar plan will be evolved as part of developing non-conventional sources of energy and group housing societies will be given incentives for generating solar power,” Kejriwal said.

