Constituencies await Rs 1 cr for upgrade of power infra

Vikram Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 20

Despite the government having announced Rs 1-crore constituency fund to legislators for the upgrade of the power infrastructure last year, nothing has been done so far.

People of the Jammu region that faces a power crisis in the summer season every year have been expecting reforms in this regard from the new dispensation. However, they have been left disappointed.

On June 20, the Deputy Chief Minister had, on the floor of the House in Srinagar, while enumerating various initiatives undertaken in the power sector, said the government would provide Rs 1 crore to each constituency for the upgrade of power infrastructure.

He had said that the Deputy Commissioners would be the nodal officers and works would be undertaken on the recommendations of legislators.

“It is a mere eyewash. More than a year has passed, Nagrota constituency hasn’t received its due share. Now, there are some indications coming that the funds might be released but until they don’t reach us, nothing can be assured,” said Nagrota MLA Devender Singh Rana, who is the provincial president of the National Conference.

NC legislator from Bishnah, too, said his constituency, which has 150 villages, did not have a regular power supply round the year.

“I deposited my constituency funds to the Power Development Department (PDD) for empowering villages with a regular supply. I fought in the review meeting held by CM Mehbooba Mufti to enhance the amount of funds as catering to 150 villages through Rs 1 crore is very difficult,” said Kamal Arora, NC MLA from Bishnah.

He said Bishnah, being a border constituency, needed a regular power supply but no funds had been released.

Arora also ridiculed the earlier amount of Rs 37.50 lakh, given to constituencies on the condition that Rs 18 lakh were for managing transformers and Rs 19.5 lakh for purchasing conductors, which was never used to augment any power station.

While the power scenario in the state has gone from bad to worse, the government’s claim that it would ensure uninterrupted power supply by 2019 at affordable prices, seemed to be only a lip service, he said.