The Hindu : Mukhi criticises Govt. for non-electrification of flats

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Saturday, May 31, 2003

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Mukhi criticises Govt. for non-electrification of flats

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI MAY 30. Alleging that the Congress-ruled Delhi Government along with the two private discoms -- Tata Power and BSES -- was responsible for non-electrification of about 9,500 flats constructed by Delhi Development Authority years ago, the Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Jagdish Mukhi, today demanded that all such flats meant mostly for the poor be provided with power during the next three months.

Addressing a press conference, Prof. Mukhi alleged that the Delhi Government was deliberately not transferring the money running into crores paid by people or developing agencies -- like DDA -- for electrification of flats to the discoms. "As a result, both Tata Power and BSES have withheld many electrification works in their areas. It is the people who are suffering.''

Stating that several meetings have taken place between senior officials of discoms, Delhi Transco and DDA on the issue, Prof. Mukhi said the problem persists mainly because of the ill- intentions of Transco and due to vast confusion on the memorandum of understanding (MoU). As a result, 9,437 DDA houses could not be allotted to the people who are in dire need of flats. "This has also resulted in a revenue loss of more than Rs.250 crores in the past three years,'' he said.

Prof. Mukhi alleged that due to this deliberate confusion, discoms have not been provided with estimates for electrification of as many as 2,343 houses. Electrification work is in progress in 3,247 houses and is at a very slow pace. "It is a matter of great regret that even after making full payment by the DDA more than three years ago, electrification process is yet to start in as many as 3,856 houses,'' he stated. These houses are in Jasola, Dwarka, Shalimar Bagh, Narela, Rohini, Sarita Vihar, Madipur, Peeragarhi and Kondli Gharoli, he added.

For instance, Prof. Mukhi said the DDA had requested electrification of 1,280 Janata Flats in Pocket 3 of Dwarka -- the fast upcoming sub-city in South-West Delhi -- way back in January 2000. The then Delhi Vidyut Board, headed by Jagdish Sagar who is now the Principal Secretary (Power), sent the estimates two years later in March 2002. The same month the DDA deposited Rs. 152.43 lakhs to the DVB as required. "More than an year after, the work is yet to start,'' he alleged.

Worse is the case with 2,608 single-room tenements in Pocket 2 of Jasola in South Delhi the request for which was made to DVB way back in August 1997. The DVB could send the estimates only in June 2001. "The DDA deposited the requisite money of Rs. 178.61 lakhs the very next month in July 2001. So far only 30 per cent of the work has been completed. Depriving the people from their houses through such tactics is a criminal offence,'' Prof. Mukhi said.

``Nearly 10,000 houses are available in Delhi but this could not be utilised due to the fault of DVB, Delhi Government and the discoms. The Government should immediately electrify the houses which were constructed by the DDA and payment for which have already been made,'' Prof. Mukhi demanded.

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