Opposition leader and former Chief Minister Arjun Munda on Wednesday registered his protest and anguish over the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) board’s intention to transfer its assets to West Bengal Electricity Board. Munda said that the issue discussed in DVC board meeting on April 21 was highly objectionable, especially when general elections are going on.
Addressing media persons, the former CM said that he had written to the Election Commission, Government of India and the President with a request that they take serious note of the matter and immediately halt any steps that are being taken to transfer the public sector enterprise’s assets to the West Bengal Govt and its power utility WBSEDCl.
“We have reliably learnt that the issues of handing over of HT transmission and distribution system of DVC within the State of West Bengal alongwith its existing consumers located within Bengal to WBSEDCl and transfer of ownership of Durgapur barrage and the entire irrigation system thereof to the WB government were discussed in the April 21 meeting of the DVC Board,” Munda said.
Munda moves EC, opposes DVC bid to transfer assets to Bengal “DVC is guided by an Act of Parliament and run by the Government of India and the incumbent Chairman of the public sector enterprise, Arup Roy Choudhury, is an acting Chairman, who is also the Chairman of NTPC. And, an acting Chairman should not discuss such vital issues concerning state governments that are stakeholders. With the timing and intentions of the issues being discussed it appears that the acting Chairman is involved in some dubious deals with a kin of one Jharkhand Minister,” he added.
The Opposition leader further questioned the necessity of such discussions at a time when the country is in the midst of parliamentary elections. “Discussing issues that may affect thousands of people from Jharkhand and West Bengal at the time of elections raises doubts. Whether this is being done for poll benefits or personal gains is a matter to be probed,” Munda said adding that such issues could be discussed only after a regular Chairman takes over the charge of DVC.
“It appears as if some people want to ruin the corporation. It is not even clear whether the representatives of Jharkhand were present in the meeting or not. I have asked the Chief Secretary to clear State government’s stand. The Government has adopted a lacklustre attitude. It should take the matter seriously as Jharkhand is a stakeholder in the corporation and the command area has thousands of residents, who may get affected due to any adverse decision,” he said adding that the people of the state were yet to be benefitted by the valley project as they were facing the problems of displacement and catchment area.