CM rebukes KPTCL officials

By Our Staff Correspondent

BELGAUM, MAY 23. Taking cognizance of lapses on the part of KPTCL officials, the Chief Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna, on Wednesday warned that they would face action for failure to fulfil their commitment to maintain power supply to irrigation pumpsets (IP sets).

Inaugurating the 33/11 KV, 2x5 MVA sub-station at Fort here, he said the Government had promised farmers that there would be uninterrupted power supply at night from May 1. Such a promise had been made on the basis of a commitment given by the KPTCL. But ``unofficial''' reports reaching the Chief Minister's Office pointed out that the KPTCL was not adhering to the commitment in many districts. ``If you cannot achieve targets, then do not make the Chief Minister commit himself,'' he said.

Pointing out that inefficiency at different levels had caused the problem, Mr. Krishna said the KPTCL was expected to improve both efficiency and quality of power supply to meet the expectations of consumers. This could be done by revitalising the components of the power distribution system, he added.

Mr. Krishna said that the long-term imperatives and short-term compulsions, and measures to be initiated to improve power supply, were discussed at the recent conference of Chief Ministers at Delhi.

The State Government had begun an experiment for the first time to ensure both transparency and accountability in respect of contract works such as those related to road construction, Mr. Krishna said. Hereafter, only pre-qualified contractors would be allotted works through tenders, on the condition that they would also take up maintenance of the roads for three years after completion of the projects. To ensure accountability through an in-built mechanism, the bills would be cleared in three instalments -- 10 per cent in the first instalment, 80 per cent in the second, and, the rest after the expiry of the term of the contract.

Speaking about development, Mr. Krishna stressed the importance of reducing non-Plan expenditure. The Government was left with hardly 30 to 40 per cent of the budgetary allocations for projects, as more than 60 per cent of the funds was utilised for paying salary and pension. This had forced the Government to take loans from international agencies such as the World Bank, he added.

He said the World Bank was expected to release Rs. 750 crores as loan to the State next month, for taking up watershed and tank reconstruction in arid and semi-arid regions. These projects were aimed at providing water to villagers and recharging the depleting water table, he pointed out.

Mr. Ramesh Kudachi, MLA, presided. The Minister for Public Works, Mr. Dharam Singh, the Minister of State for Energy, Mr. Veerakumar Appaso Patil, the Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies, Mr. D.B. Inamdar, Mr. Amarsinh Patil, MP, Mr. S.B. Sidnal, former MP, Mr. Shyam B. Ghatage, Mr. Kakasaheb Patil, Mr. Prakash Hukeri and Mr. Mahantesh Koujalgi, legislators from the district, and senior KPTCL officials from the district, were present.

The KPTCL Director, Mr. Shivamallu, welcomed the guests.

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Section  : Southern States
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