Chief Min warns power firms against lethargy

Looking at the sluggish pace of work related to strengthening electricity supply and building desired infrastructure for  that, Chief Minister Raghubar Das has warned the firms assigned with the related jobs.

Chairing a review meeting of the performance of the companies engaged into erecting overhead wire to rural areas and setting up power transformers, underground cabling in selected towns, installation of covered overhead wires, shifting of poles, building sub-stations, etc on Monday, the Chief Minister told them to complete the job assigned in time.

“Complete the work of power supply to every household within the given timeframe. Those who cannot do should surrender. Now, the Government will be forced to take action. Bank guarantee of those companies who will not complete work within designated timeframe will be seized and legal action will also be taken against the officials,” said the CM issuing stern warning.

He reiterated the timeline which is December 2018 to provide electricity connection to every household of the State and repeated that no negligence will be tolerated at any cost in this work.

According to the progress report, companies are being paid by the Government but desired outcome has not come from their side. Pace of the task undertaken is behind the schedule even in Ranchi where underground cabling is being done by Polycab in major parts of the city. The Chief Minister during the review put special emphasis on the works to be done in rural electrification segment.

The Chief Minister said, “Chalk out your strategies to achieve the goal. Electricity has not reached to all the people even after so many years of independence. Our Government is working to energise every house under the leadership of the Union Government. Electrification will bring about changes in the lives of poor. Condition of people has improved in the areas where electricity has reached.”

IL&FS, Ashoka Buildcon and Pace Power were instructed specifically to speed up work in their respective areas. “If they do not improve this time, then their bank guarantee will be confiscated and legal action will be taken as per the directions. The Chief Minister has laid down clear instructions for that and had said that after the last month's meeting also. Condition has improved since then but still there is lot to do. A meeting with these companies will again be held on August 9,” said an official of the Energy Department present in the meeting.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Sunil Kumar Barnwal, Secretary of Department of Energy Nitin Madan Kulkarni, Managing Director Rahul Purwar among others.