New Delhi, February 12
The AAP government today announced that consumers who did not pay their electricity bills as part of the party's power agitation will have to shell out only half of their total dues, a decision which will cost Rs 6 crore to the exchequer.

A decision to this effect was taken by a meeting of the Delhi Cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The penalty on the outstanding dues has also been waived.

"The Delhi government today decided to give a 50 per cent subsidy to those who did not pay their bills from October 2012 to April 2013 (the duration of the agitation) and chose not to pay till December," said Education Minister Manish Sisodia.

Officials said the decision will benefit around 24,000 consumers. Just after its formation, the AAP had launched a 'Bijli Satyagraha' against 'inflated' power bills in the national Capital. As part of the campaign, Kejriwal had urged people not to pay their power bills.

Although around 10 lakh people had signed AAP's petition against power distribution companies during the agitation, only 24,000-odd consumers actually stopped paying their bills.

Keeping a pre-poll promise, Kejriwal had announced a 50 per cent subsidy on electricity consumption of up to 400 units in Delhi after coming into power.

Later, the AAP government also ordered the Comptroller and Auditor General to audit the finances of the three private power distribution companies serving Delhi.

A total of 2,508 electricity meters were disconnected by the authorities for non-payment of inflated and wrong bills. The government has decided to provide relief to these people also.

Besides, the government has decided to consider the closure of theft cases registered against some consumers during the previous government's regime.

New Delhi, February 12
In the wake of the Union health ministry's recent move to increase the duration of MBBS course from 5 ½ to 7 ½ years applicable, close to 3,000 students and junior and senior residents of eight medical colleges and hospital declared an indefinite strike here today.

This means the OPDs and health services of many hospitals, including the AIIMS, and Safdarjung Hospital, would suffer with residents boycotting work.

President of Resident Doctors' Association of Lady Hardinge Medical College Dr Monika Puri said, "Students were protesting peacefully, but were lathicharged and so residents too joined them.”

New Delhi, February 12
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today urged the diplomats from African countries to come out with their feelings and suggestions on some unsavoury incidents happened recently, which require his immediate attention.

He said this in a reception hosted for the ambassadors and high commissioners of African countries in the city. The reception was attended by the top diplomats from 30 countries and top bureaucrats of the Delhi government.

The ambassador of Nigeria, Ndubuisi Vitus Amaku, who is the Deputy Dean of the African Diplomatic Core, urged the Chief Minister to give a public assurance that there would be no discrimination against the citizens from the African countries.

Kejriwal assured the diplomats that the government would take steps to end all kinds of discrimination.

Welcoming the ambassadors and high commissioners, Kejriwal said, "The government is committed to showcasing the national Capital as a unique city where law-abiding people from different parts of the country and the world live together peacefully."

He referred to the multi-dimensional nature of the relations between India and countries of the African continent.

"India and Africa share the mutual desire to expand economic cooperation between them. Delhi is home to citizens from across the world and we are keen to meet the diplomats and discuss all the issues they wanted to raise," the Chief Minister said.

Speaking on the occasion, the ambassador of Zimbabwe, Jonathan Wutawunashe, who is also Dean of the African Diplomatic Core, described Delhi as his own city.

Ambassador Wutawunashe wanted the procedures on the Value Added Tax (VAT) to be simplified in the Capital, to which the Chief Minister replied that the process has already been started.

Education Minister Manish Sisodia, Chief Secretary SK Srivastava, Principal Secretary to the CM, Rajendra Kumar, Home Secretary Archana Arora, PWD Secretary Arun Baroka and Finance Secretary MM Kutty were present on the occasion. 

New Delhi, February 12
The Delhi Cabinet meeting today reiterated its decision to hold a special session of Delhi Assembly for the passage of Jan Lokpal Bill at a stadium or ground, saying that democracy should not be confined to four walls.

Turning down Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung's request to reconsider the decision, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the government would go ahead with its plan to hold the exercise at a public venue.

"The matter was raised once again in the cabinet as the LG had requested the government to reconsider its decision. After discussion, it was decided that the government would go ahead with its earlier decision and once again urged the LG to assist it in holding the session in an open space," Education and PWD Minister Manish Sisodia after the cabinet meeting.

Earlier, Jung had asked the Chief Minister to review the decision as the Delhi police had expressed reservation over it, citing possible law and order situation.

Rejecting the Delhi police's plea, Sisodia said, "It is the same police which have provided security to much bigger events related to sports or religious festivals in Delhi. But surprisingly, it has expressed its inability to provide security at an event which would last for a few hours only," he added. 

New Delhi, February 12
People residing in the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area will now get a 6 per cent yearly interest on the security deposit submitted by them while applying for an electricity connection.

The above announcement was made today by NDMC chairperson Jalaj Srivastava during the presentation of the 2014-15 budget.

The benefit is only meant for domestic electricity consumers and will be implemented from April.

An allocation of Rs 1,018.79 crore has been made in the budget for electricity works such as construction of new 33kV sub-stations, incentivising use of solar energy, etc.

The NDMC is planning to set up 11kV sub-stations at American Embassy School at Chanakyapuri and on Africa Avenue Crossroad No. 2.

Meanwhile, the NDMC has announced that its project for the "uninterrupted, 24/7 supply of water" has been approved "in principle" by the Centre with the final nod expected soon.

A provision of Rs 121.34 crore has been made in the budget for water supply, including for the replacement of old water mains and pump sets and procurement of tankers.

The NDMC has earmarked Rs 141.44 crore for the education sector in the budget. Among others, it has proposed to set up a training institute for primary teachers.

An outlay of Rs 181.24 crore has been prepared for upgrading various municipal markets with a plan being mooted for the redevelopment of Khan Market, Gole Market, Sarojini Nagar Market and INA Dilli Haat. 

New Delhi, February 12
After being scolded and punished by her teacher, a 16-year-old girl allegedly attempted to commit suicide by jumping from the third floor of her school building at Jamia Nagar in Southeast Delhi this morning.

The girl is said to be in a critical condition. She is a Class IX student of the Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya.

Sources said the teacher had caught her reading a letter inside the classroom. She allegedly scolded her in front of the entire class and took her to the principal's office. The principal also allegedly scolded the girl.

They directed her to call her parents. They also threatened to expel her from the school. After the class was over, the girl rushed to the third floor of the building and jumped from there.