Budget Session: Acts of DVC not good says Hemant, after MLAs raise issue of mega load shedding in command areas

Ranchi: Chief Minister Hemant Soren said that the acts of Damodar Valley Corporation were not good and the state government was keeping an eye on its functioning in the state.

Talking to reporters outside the assembly he said that the government was serious on the issue and wanted to make sure that the people continue to get power in their homes in the same manner which they were getting earlier. He, however, said that DVC was a PSU of the Government of India and the state government was now working to sort out the matter on a priority basis.

Earlier the issue was also raised up inside the house with MLAs cutting across party lines raising up the matter as soon as the house assembled for the day post the Holi break. It was BJP MLA Biranchi Narayan who raised the issue first claiming that in the 7 districts which fall in the command area of DVC load shedding for long duration ranging upto 12 hours was being done due to which life has become difficult for the people.

Congress MLA from Barhi Umashankar Akela said that DVC was cutting 18 hours of power in his area and claimed that since the previous government of Raghubar Das did not clear the dues of the company therefore now they are facing the heat and anger of the people of the constituency.

CPI-ML MLA from Bagodar Binod Singh also joined the matter and said that since the festival of Holi the command areas of the DVC are in complete darkness. He said that three days have already gone over the matter and therefore it was high time that the government should resolves the issue.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Aalamgir Aalam pacified the MLAs by claiming that the government was serious over the issue and soon the crisis would be sorted out. The Damodar Valley Corporation since March 10 commenced load shedding of power in the districts which fall under its command area. The seven districts included Hazaribagh Chatra Koderma Ramgarh Bokaro Dhanbad and Giridih.

DVC in these areas will be cutting 18 hours of power in these districts. The DVC has rejected the requests of Power Corporation to allow time to make the payment. Due to the decision of the DVC power crisis has gripped these districts. The Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd owes Rs 4995 crore in pending payment to DVC.

The company had earlier set a deadline of February 25, 2020 for clearing the payment and had said that if the payment will not be made than from March 10 power will be cut in these districts.

The commercial department of the company has issued a letter in which it has announced the time for load shedding in these districts. It has been decided that after every 6 hours of load shedding only 2 hours of power will be provided.