State BJP spokesperson, Pratul Shahdeo has snubbed Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) executive president and former Chief Minister Hemant Soren for his ‘scam’ remark on street lighting project in rural areas.
Shahdeo, talking to media persons on Sunday at BJP headquarter said, “The JMM leader has the habit of leveling baseless allegations without going through the facts and figures. Soren’s allegation showcases his depressing and negative mentality and how he is upset with BJP’s development plan.”
The BJP leader claimed that various Mukhiya Sanghs had given the proposal for installation of street light at different rate in different areas, later the State Government decided to give tenders to Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) which is cent-per- cent union government subsidiary for illuminating rural streets with LED lights.
Shahdeo said, “Soren has quoted that the price of single unit of blub is Rs 1850, but the actual price of the blub (unit) is Rs 1350.”
The BJP leader claimed that the rate on which EESL is carrying out rural electrification in Jharkhand is similar to rate in which the company is working in Andhra Pradesh.
Shahdeo said, “Hemant Soren is upset with development work carried out by Centre and State Government. The JMM leadership, off late, has realised that people of State have become aware of development work carried out by Modijee and Raghubar Das Government. In last Lok Sabha election too people had reposed faith on BJP development politics.”
The street lighting project in around 30,000 villages is one of the most ambitious projects of Raghubar Das Government. The State Government, this year, had inked a deal with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL)—an energy service company for installing LED streetlights at 4,367 panchayats across the State.
Sources said that the State Government, as part of rural electrification, has decided to install street lighting arrangements at rural areas. In this connection, LED street lights are to be installed in 4,367 panchayats. Around 200 LED street lights will be installed in a panchayat. Each panchayat will get Rs 3.88 lakh for installation of 200 LED lights. The BJP leader claimed that Soren, by leveling such baseless allegation, wants to create hurdles in rural street lighting projects as the JMM leader doesn’t want rural areas to be illuminated.
Highlighting the work carried out by Raghubar Das Government in rural electrification scheme, Shahdeo said that even after creation of separate State there was no power connection in 30 lakh households. However, the Das Government, in last four and half years, under the mission mode carried out work for rural electrification. For uninterrupted power supply construction of power grid and power substation is going on war footing. Officials said that to ensure 24x7 power supply, 117 new power grids and 217 power sub-stations are being constructed.
The BJP leader claimed that if some parts of State are witnessing power cuts then the onus falls on Hemant Soren as during his 14 months tenure he kept the files of transmission lines in cold storage. If the Soren Government had given clearance to the files then today entire state would have 24X7 power connection.
