The BJP on Wednesday dared the BJD to give a clarification to people during its Jansampark Padyatra as to why 39 lakh households are yet to get electricity connection in the State.
“Out of one crore households in Odisha, 39 lakh are yet to get electricity connection. Will the BJD, during its Jansampark Padyatra, assure to provide electricity connection to all households by the year 2018 under the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana,” party State secretary Kalandi Samal put this question at a Press meet here.
Samal also wanted that ruling leaders give clarification as to why transformers are not being replaced months after they get defunct and why electric staff doesn’t attend fuse call from households for days together.
“After a review meeting held by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on December 12, 2016, a released issued by the CMO had targeted to provide electricity to all rural households by May 2017. Though the time has passed, the BJD should clarify as to why all households have not been provided electricity,” said Samal.
“The State Government had on December 18, 2015 told the Assembly that the Centre had sanctioned Rs 1656.48 crore basing on the States DPR to provide electricity to all households. Will the BJD tell people why that was not executed,” questioned Samal.
Besides, the ruling party should make it clear whether the Centre has given additional Rs 560 crore for rural electrification and Rs 521 crore for urban electricity infrastructure or not.
Though the Government had planned to establish 500 new transformers to resolve low voltage problem, it is yet to execute the same. For this people are still getting low voltage. The BJD should make clarifications in this regard also, Samal said.
The Government had signed MoUs to establish 27 Independent Power Projects but only four of them have come up so far. The ruling party should also give clarification in this regard.
Similarly, MoUs signed for establishment of hydropower, solar and wind power projects have stilled remained in locked boxes. The BJD has also to give clarification for this, demanded Samal.
Among others, party’s State chief spokesperson Sajjan Sharma and spokesperson Sudipta Ray and Dillip Mohanty were present.