CM Arvind Kejriwal faces flak over blackouts in South Delhi

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was at the receiving end of public ire on Saturday when several residents of South Delhi complained about the power outages and drinking water crisis in their localities.

The questions came during Kejriwal's padyatra in Malviya Nagar Assembly constituency. As part of the AAP's plans to hit the ground and resolve people's problems directly ahead of the Assembly polls in the Capital, Kejriwal held the padyatra in the constituency with local MLA Somnath Bharti.

The residents of Humayun Pur raised the issues of electricity and drinking water while the AAP national convener was praising how his government has ensured 24X7 electricity and adequate drinking water for the residents.

A woman reportedly grabbed the chief minister's shirt to seek attention. Kejriwal was quick to address their concerns and immediately directed installation of adequate transformers in the area to prevent any further distribution problems.

"Delhi is the only city in the country that offers 24-hour power supply to everyone. We have seen there are some pockets in the city that have power as well as water supply issues. In the case of power, the areas where local faults were observed will immediately be fitted with new transformers," the chief minister said.

As the mercury is rising in the Capital, the demand of electricity has shot up and an excess use of AC's often leads to outage too. Adding to the woes, many areas of the national capital are facing severe water crisis too.

"Certain parts of the city face water-related issues. We have already laid down pipelines in many colonies.

These colonies will begin to receive piped water within a week. They don't have to rely on tankers any longer," Kejriwal told reporters during the padyatra.

Meanwhile, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Sheila Dikshit, while accusing AAP dispensation of graft in connivance with distribution companies, demanded that the electricity bills of the consumers will be waived off for the next six months.

"Kejriwal government had indulged in an open loot by putting unnecessary burden on the people in an indirect manner to favour the power distribution companies by collecting money in the name of fixed charges and pension funds," the former chief minister of Delhi, said.