The main opposition in the State Assembly, Congress on Tuesday staged a walkout in the House over peasants’ being allegedly booked over pending electricity dues.
Raising the matter during the Question Hour, Jitu Patwari of Congress said the Government claimed that no agriculturist is being booked for non-payment of electricity dues in view of drought.
However, first information report (FIR) was registered against a 14-year-old boy in Sagar. The matter was heard in the lokayukta.
Finance Minister Jayant Malaiya, who was replying in the absence of Energy Minister Rajendra Shukla, asserted that no FIR was registered for non-payment of electricity dues. He said FIRs were registered in cases of power thefts.
On the intervention of Speaker Sitasharan Sharma, Malaiya agreed to order a probe into the matter. However, the Opposition demanded that the Minister announce an action against anyone found guilty. As Malaiya did not concede, Congress members staged a walkout from the House.
Earlier, the House witnessed a ruckus-like situation over allegation of Congress’ Sunderlal Tiwari that power bills are being collected on the basis of voltage being consumed by motor pumps instead of its capacity, on whose basis the contract is entered. He said that any action should be taken against the company concerned if more voltage is being drawn by motors.
Malaiya said peasants got their motors rewound by unauthorised dealers. He advised the member to suggest peasants refrain against it. However, as Congress members created uproar over the matter, the Minister agreed to get the matter probed.