Chescom given deadline to provide electricity connection
Delay in Rajiv Gandhi Electrification Project irks Bopaiah
Chescom officials have been given the ultimatum of providing electricity connections to houses of all economically backward families by June end, under the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Project (RGREP) in the district.
Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah convening a meeting with Chescom officials on Thursday said that there has been an inordinate delay in implementation of the project and the Chescom officials will have to take steps to fasten up the implementation process.
“The officials have conveniently provided connections only to those villages, which can be easily accessed. There are several villages reeling under darkness even today. These villages must be identified and electricity connection must be provided at the earliest. My own village Kaloor is one such village which has not seen electricity yet,” said Bopaiah taking exception on the manner in which the contractor of the project has been functioning. He asked Chescom officials to warn the contractors.
MLC M C Nanaiah and MLA M P Appachu Ranjan said that stern action must be taken against the contractors for having failed to perform their duties efficiently.
Nanaiah said that the contractor will have to deliver work as per the tender notification. “There can be no deviation from rules and there shall be no room for further delay. In case of any lapses, the officials will be held responsible,” he said adding that the officials will have to get funds from the Centre convincing the Centre about the implementation of the project. He asked the officials not put burden on the State government.
Responding to this Chescom Managing director Bhore Gowda said that though the district had sent an action plan of Rs 60 crore to provide electricity connection to 30,000 BPL families the Centre released only Rs 38 crore.
Ranjan said that the officials should complete all the work before June end. “A sum of Rs 22 crore has been released already,” he said questioning the officials with regard to increase in the cost mentioned in the revised action plan for the project.The MD said that though the number of houses yet to get connection is less there is a need to build infrastructure before providing connection, which incurs expenditures.
The MD further said that already 152 villages have been covered under the project while work is under progress at 57 places. Work has to begin in 64 villagers (Upagrama). Since these villages involve difficult terrain the expense on implementation of the project will be higher than usual.
ZP CEO N Krishnappa among others were present.
