Srinagar, Oct 30: Mocking at the Power Development Department’s much-hyped drive against power theft in the State, security forces posted in various areas of the winter capital Jammu are illegally using electricity at their camps.  
 This has been stated by the Government in response to a RTI application filed by Convener of J&K RTI Movement Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat. In response to the RTI, the Chief Engineer PDD (M&RE Wing) Jammu under letter No: CEJ/RTI/21/1565-73 dated October 17, 2011 reveals various paramilitary forces including CRPF, ITBP and BSF owe a whopping amount of Rs 3.70 crore electricity bills to the PDD in four sub-divisions of Jammu.
 The letter further reveals that out of this, CRPF camps located at Raj Bhavan and CM’s residence in Jammu alone owe Rs 3.56 crore power dues to the PDD
 “There are scores of other VIP locations around Jammu where the CRPF have not at all paid the power dues for past many years.  Some of these locations include Doordarshan Jammu (4.14 lakhs) , Judge quarters Amphalla (6.63 lakhs) , MLA hotel (2.54 lakhs), Chief Electoral Office (5.34 lakhs), DIG Police Durbar Move (3.10 lakhs) , Commandant CRPF Nagrota (23.70 lakhs), Police Control Room (2.82 lakhs)
 Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat had filed another RTI application on August 23, 2011 seeking information from the PDD about the total revenue collected from the security forces operating in the State since 1991.
 Besides, the RTI has sought details of security forces who have not paid the power bill since 1991, besides total outstanding with them for past two decades.
 “The PDD did not provide the requisite information on time. Information pertaining to only few areas of Jammu was provided by the Chief Engineer Jammu to whom my RTI application was transferred from Civil Secretariat. This is violation of J&K RTI Act 2009,” Raja Muzaffar told Greater Kashmir.
 He said the Public Information Officer (PIO) PDD at Civil Secretariat was supposed to inform him if the application was forwarded to various field departments of PDD.
 “Despite lapse of more than two months, I have not been provided full information. And the details which I have been provided by Chief Engineer PDD Jammu is just a small fraction of this big scam The security forces located in Kashmir owe hundreds of crores to Government and this information is yet to be shared with me,” Muzaffar said.
 Muzaffar said he has filed a complaint under section 15 of J&K RTI Act 2009 against the PDD authorities in J&K State Information Commission (SIC). “We will soon expose the whole scam. If a poor man of this State is unable to pay his monthly power bill, he is threatened and harassed by the authorities. But when the defaulters are security forces, the PDD authorities remain silent.”
 Elaborating he alleged that the security forces are illegally using power. “They are openly seen using boilers to make water warm during winters by immersing them in huge water tanks. But nobody dares to check it. Now as responsible citizens of the State, we have taken a vow to carry out our crusade against power theft. We are helping the Government and it also must cooperate with us in this fight,” he added.
 The Power Development Commissioner Manzoor Salroo said the security forces located at temporary make shift camps are major problem for the PDD. “They may not make agreement with the PDD but it is the State Government which has to clear dues of all the security force posts which are housed at various Government buildings or other institutions. Due to financial crises, the Government is not able to clear these dues but that is not a big problem for us. However, the dues can be recovered at any time,” the CE said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 30 Oct 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 IST