Chandigarh, September 3, 2015: The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal Khattar, has said 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.
This was stated by the Transport Minister, Mr Krishan Lal Panwar, while answering on behalf of the Chief Minister a question raised by Mr 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 during Question Hour on the second day of the monsoon session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha today.
Mr Panwar informed the House that the losses of power distribution companies which amounted to Rs 1,360 crore in 2005, increased to Rs 26,952 crore in 2013-14 and further increased to Rs 29,362 crore in 2014-15.
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.
Mr. 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.
Participating in the discussion, Leader of Opposition, Mr. 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.
In his reply, Mr 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. / (SK Vyas, Jalandhar)
Date:
Thursday, September 3, 2015