Chautala for review of power sector reforms

By Rajesh Ahuja

SIRSA, MARCH 20. The Haryana Chief Minister and Indian National Lok Dal supremo, Mr. Om Prakash Chautala, has indicated that his regime is not only opposed to privatisation of the power sector in the State but also the agreement with the World Bank for power reforms (an offshoot of the previous Bansi Lal set-up) can be reviewed.However, in a marked departure from his stand when he was in the opposition, Mr. Chautala asserts that there is no question of providing free water and power to the people.

Political observers feel that Mr. Chautala could opt for a modification of the terms and conditions agreed to between the Bansi Lal regime and the World Bank but this would involve ticklish negotiations. The World Bank has already suspended disbursement of the loan for power sector reforms as the State Government has not only failed to adhere to the terms and conditions but also not increased the power tariff.It is being said that political assertions apart, the State Government would have to ultimately fall in line as it might find it difficult to generate financial resources to carry out the power reforms on its own.

Mr. Chautala is currently on a whirlwind tour of his home constituency to thank the electorate for his electoral victory. The Chief Minister had won the Assembly election from Rori, his home constituency by defeating his brother, Mr. Ranjit Singh, and from Narwana. He has relinquished the Rori seat and it is the talk in political circles that Mr. Chautala is grooming his son, Abhay Chautala,to contest the by-election whenever it is held.

The Chief Minister is making several key announcements while reiterating that the promises doled out during his `Sarkar Aapke Dwar' (governance at your doorsteps) programmes before the Vidhan Sabha polls would be fulfilled.

For instance at Dabwali, Mr. Chautala announced that a new education policy is on the anvil to cope with the growing problem of unemployment in the State.He was laying the foundation stone of a cafeteria-cum-recreation centre in the compound of Maharana Pratap Women College. Eminent educationists and social workers were being consulted for early formulation of the new policy.The INLD regime was committed to impart qualitative education to the students based on information technology, vocational and job- oriented syllabi.

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