The Jharkhand Government has expressed its displeasure over deduction of Rs 714 crore as power dues of Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), with ruling parties (JMM, Congress) planning to reach out to people to ‘expose the highhandedness of Centre’.
The Union Power Ministry on Wednesday deducted Rs 714 crore from Jharkhand’s account with the Reserve Bank of India towards clearing the dues of power generation company Damodar Valley Corporation.
State Congress spokesperson, Alok Dubey said, “We will fight Centre’s highhandedness on two fronts—both in the Supreme Court and people’s court. The State Government has decided to raise the issue at Supreme Court, also we will reach people with plea how centre is penalizing and creating problems for State Government.”
Dubey said that Central Government subsidiary Central Coalfield Limited (CCL) owes more than Rs 8000 crores as coal royalty to State, but despite several reminders the Coal Ministry has failed to pay the dues to State Government, on the other hand Union Power Ministry has deducted money twice from Jharkhand’s account with the Reserve Bank of India towards clearing the dues of power generation company Damodar Valley Corporation.
The Jharkhand Government last week decided to make an exit from ‘Tripartite Agreements’ between Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Central Government (through Union Power Ministry) and State Governments/UTs on power dues.
Jharkhand decided to withdraw from the agreement as in October last year a sum of Rs 1417.50 Crore, was auto debited from Jharkhand’s account with the Reserve Bank of India without consulting the State.
Dubey also claimed that Congress will reach out to people informing people about the Centre double standards in helping and cooperating State Governments. “The Centre has different policy for NDA ruled states and non-NDA ruled states, as BJP government primary focus is to penalize non-NDA ruled states,” added Dubey.
However, the BJP claimed that the State Government is politicizing the issue to hide its incompetence. State BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo said, “The Energy department in the month of November and December made revenue collection, but when it comes to paying back the dues to DVC the State Government is giving the excuse of lack of funds.”
Shahdeo also said that there is part of lack of communication channel between State Government and Power Ministry in clearing the dues as on Power Ministry on several occasions had asked state government to clears its dues, but the state government has not taken any initiative.
Sources said the Union power ministry had on September 11 written to the state government, putting it on notice of 15 days for payment of the outstanding dues to the DVC.