Jammu, Mar 15: Depressing power scenario and poor implementation of Rajiv Gandhi Vidhutikiran Yojna (RGVY), envisaging electrification of ‘dark’ villages, dominated the Question Hour in the State Legislative Assembly on Monday.
 Opposition members criticized the government for its “laidback approach with regard to monitoring the implementation of the scheme in the state.” Minister of state for power, Shabir Ahmed Khan faced a volley of questions from the opposition members over the implementation of the scheme that was to be completed in 2007.
 The centrally sponsored scheme was launched in the state in 2005 with an objective to electrify all the villages lacking electricity, including de-electrified habitations by 2007.
 Levelling serious allegations, Harshdev Singh of NPP said that besides large scale “irregularities” in the implementation of the scheme, the executing agency, NHPC, “has failed to meet the 2007 deadline.” He blamed the state government of lacking in proper monitoring.
 Choudhary Ramzan of National Conference acknowledged that the government had not fixed any time frame for the completion of the scheme at the time of giving away contracts.  He said the contractors in his constituency were forcing the villagers to carry the poles themselves “to get the power supply.”
 The MLA Handwara complained against the dilapidated condition of transmission and distribution network in his areas. “Last year three persons were killed due to collapse of distribution and transmission lines in my constituency,” he said.
 Balwant Singh Mankotia, Ashwani Sharma and Mir Saifullah, also complained about the poor implementation of the scheme in their constituencies. 
 In his reply the minister said a three-level – state, division and district – monitoring mechanism has been put in place for the implementation of RGGVY.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST