The losses of power distribution companies in Haryana which amounted to Rs1,360 crore in 2005, increased to Rs26,952 crore in 2013-14 and further increased to Rs29,362 crore in 2014-15, said Cabinet Minister Krishan lal Panwar on Thursday.
While replying to a question raised by legislator Gian Chand Gupta, who had asked if it was a fact that the power distribution companies in the State were bearing heavy losses due to non-payment of electricity bills, Panwar said that the Haryana Power Regulatory Commission had been advising the Government from time to time to increase the power tariff, but the previous Government did not do so and the losses of power distribution companies kept increasing.
He said that power tariff was increased by 0.6 per cent in 2001-02. After that, tariff rate was not increased from 2002-03 to 2009-10. It was increased by 11.87 per cent in 2011-12, 13.33 per cent in 2012-13, 11.48 per cent in 2013-14 and 15 per cent in 2014-15. The present government which increased the tariff by 8.51 per cent is committed to providing 24-hour power supply to domestic, agricultural and commercial areas.
later, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal said that that in order to make power utilities profitable and to provide people uninterrupted 24-hour power supply, “Mhara Gaon Jagmag Gaon” scheme has been started on 83 feeders spread over 90 Assembly constituencies of the state.
He informed the House that under the new scheme, 24-hour power would be supplied in areas where line losses were 20 per cent on feeders and bills are paid to the extent of 90 per cent. All conductors which are more than 50-year-old, are being replaced and old meters are being replaced without any fine.
Intervening in the discussion, leader of Opposition, Abhay Singh Chautala, said that even though more than 90 per cent of the electricity bills had been paid in most villages in Ellenabad Assembly constituency, power was not being supplied properly to these villages.
Replying to this, Panwar assured the House that 24-hour power would be supplied to all Assembly constituencies, including Ellenabad, where more than 90 per cent of the electricity bills would have been paid and line losses would be up to 20 per cent. Those feeders which fulfill the conditions after installation of meters outside houses, power supply would be increased from 12 hours to 15 hours, which would further be increased to 18 hours, 21 hours and 24 hours, he added.
Haryana fixed target to generate 400 MW solar energy by year end
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal said that State Government has fixed a target to generate 400 MW renewable energy by the year end. The tender process to generate 150 MW solar power has already been started and discussions are under way with corporations of Government of India to generate additional renewable energy so as to achieve the target.
The Chief Minister while speaking on the issue of solar power generation in the State informed the House that with reference to the Government of India’s target of one lakh MW renewable energy generation, Haryana has been given to generate 2000 MW solar energy by year 2020.
The Chief Minister said that a scheme to install solar pump at tubewells is under process. To generate 12 KW solar energy, an expenditure of about Rs8-12 lakh is expected. He said that expenditure of Rs50,000 crore is expected for installing solar pumps on 6 lakh tubewells which is quite heavy.
The State Government is ready to implement the same in a phased manner. Negotiations for the same are also being held with companies. Under the scheme, there is a provision to give subsidy of Rs20,000 per KW, he added.
Government considering principal of equity
The State Government is considering the principle of equity in deciding the quantum of compensation to be paid to the farmers for the land acquired for the Kaithal-Titram bypass. The concerned farmers were invited for a dialogue and the matter would be resolved by September 10, said the Chief
Minister, Manohar lal, while speaking in response to a call-attention notice regarding land acquisition for the Kaithal bypass on National Highway No. 65. Manohar lal said that barring the Kaithal-Titram bypass, there is no disagreement on the land acquired for other bypasses at Pehowa, Ismailabad and Kalayat.
Haryana bags Skoch Order-of-Merit national award
Haryana has bagged the Skoch Order-of-Merit national award in implementation of six e-Governance and IT initiatives in the state. The award will be presented to the State Government on September 22-23. Chief Minister Manohar lal said that Haryana is the first state that has rolled out Aadhaar-based biometric attendance system to ensure and monitor the presence of officials during the office hours.
As many as 88,785 employees have been registered under the system so far. Database of 1.57 lakh
residents has already been prepared and the rest is in progress, he said urging the members of the House to come forward and make Digital Haryana a success.
1325 posts lying vacant
As many 1325 posts out of Haryana’s share of 1662 posts in Irrigation wing of Bhakra Beas Management Board are lying vacant. Also, 649 posts in Power wing out of Haryana’s share of 1065 such posts in BBMB are lying vacant.
In a reply to a question, Haryana Government has stated that all the vacancies have been intimated to the concerned authorities i.e. Haryana Staff Selection Commission and Chief Secretary of Haryana Government for filling up these posts against the share quota of Haryana. However, exact time frame for filling these vacancies can not be intimated due to various difficulties encountered during selection process, stated the State Government.
Bonded labour in Haryana
‘Bonded labour System’ is still prevalent in Haryana. Several cases of Bonded labour have been detected in the operation of brick kilns in the state, informed the State Government in a reply to a question in Haryana Vidhan Sabha. From 2012-13 to 2014-15, 303 persons, 178 children and 167 women were rescued during that last three years. Most of these rescued bonded labour were migrants from other states therefore the rehabilitation of such persons was done by their respective home state.
However, 5 cases of bonded labour were related to Haryana. They were paid Rs 20000 each as rehabilitation package in accordance with the Centrally sponsored scheme for Rehabilitation of bonded labour. In another case, 20 persons belonging to district Panipat were found to be bonded in Uttar Pradesh in August 2013. They were also provided rehabilitation package of Rs20000 each. Inspections are conducted to ensure proper working conditions to facilitate the working and living of the workers at the brick kilns.
Pension for farmers scheme under consideration
There is no scheme under consideration to provide Rs 5000 per month as pension to the farmers after the age of 60 years in Haryana.
The State Government informed the House that Atal Pension Yojana (APY) which is one of three social security schemes for poor and under-privileged, is the improved version of the NPS life Swavalamban with minimum guaranteed pensions ranging from Rs1000 to Rs5000 on attaining the age of 60 years. A communication dated 21.8.2015 has been received from the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Union Ministry of Agriculture in this regard and the proposal is being examined.
Congress sought details on jobs provided and employees dismissed during BJP tenure
Former Speaker of Haryana Vidhan Sabha and Congress MlA Kuldeep Sharma on Thursday sought details from the State Government regarding the jobs provided and employees dismissed during the ten months tenure of BJP Government in the State.
Replying to this supplementary question raised by Kuldeep Sharma, the Chief Minister Manohar lal said that the process of recruitment has already started and jobs would be provided to a large number of people in the state.
When questioned about the dismissal of guest teachers by the Congress MlA, Manohar lal said that the Government has not dismissed any one from the job but has just followed the directions given by the Court in case of guest teachers.