Srinagar, May 20: The Valley-based Electrical Manufacturers today accused the government of paving way for outside corporate houses to grab contracts under Restructured Accelerated Power Development Reform Programme (R-APDRP) in J&K.
 Under the banner of Kashmir Electrical Manufacturers’ Association, the entrepreneurs said the government has been crafting tenders in a way so as to render the local manufacturers ineligible for the contracts.
 The manufacturers said this policy of the government will render the local unit holders jobless and cause heavy loses to their business. “If the state government allots the contracts under the scheme to only outside corporate houses, more than 250 small scale industry units in the Valley will have no work to do.”
 The unit holders said the state government and Power Development Department (PDD) is their major consumer.  “If the state government is really sincerely and want to promote local industries, it should allot the projects to the local manufacturers.”
 Meanwhile, Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has also expressed its concern over “outsourcing R-APDRP scheme to outsiders.”
 In a statement FCIK said: “We are much concerned that 243 SSI units manufacturing electric goods and equipments may ultimately grow sick if their infrastructure is not utilized by the PDD.”
 “Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had promise the FCIK at a meeting earlier that the units shall be utilized for supply of key materials for execution of R-APDRP part-B projects.  The CM also assured us at that time that if need arises he will take up the matter with the Centre government to ensure that the local SSI units of the state are not ignored,” it said.
 The GoI guidelines issued to different state governments for the execution of the scheme read: “The project shall be executed preferably on turnkey basis,” which imply that it is not mandatory to execute the scheme on turnkey basis and discretion lies with state government. 
 Official of PDD, wishing not to be named, said: “We have not taken final decision in this matter whether to invite outsiders or not.”
 Notably, the Union Ministry of Power launched the R-APDRP in July 2008 with focus on establishment of baseline data, fixation of accountability, reduction of AT&C losses up to 15 per cent level through strengthening and up-gradation of Sub Transmission and Distribution network and adoption of Information Technology during XI Plan.
 According to the scheme, projects under the scheme shall be taken up in two parts: Part-A shall include the projects for establishment of baseline data and IT applications for energy accounting/auditing & IT based consumer service centres.
 Part-B shall include regular distribution strengthening projects and will cover system improvement, strengthening and augmentation etc.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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