Shinde urges J'khand govt to reorganise JSEB

Ranchi, Sep 27 (UNI) Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde today said the Centre has not received any proposal seeking extra time to reorganise thee Jharkhand State Electricity Board(JSEB).

The Centre has directed the Jharkhand government to reorganise the JSEB by October 9 following which the production, supply and distribution of power would be done separately.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Shinde said reorganisation of State Electricity Boards (SEB) would give better results.

Citing the examples of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu which had reorganised their state electricity boards, Mr Shinde said power theft had declined in the states after the reorganisation of SEBs in these states.

The Union Power Minister said the villages in Jharkhand would be electrified by 2009, the target set by the Centre of provide power to every house in the country.

After launching Rajeev Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojna(RGGVY) in Jharkhand today, he said the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) had been assigned to electrify eight districts of the state.

Mr Shinde said the Centre was paying attention on the hydro electricty scheme and a project in Arunachal had been initiated for this. He, however, remained silent when asked about Koelkaro hydro electricity scheme in Jharkhand.

On the issue of joining the UPA-backed Koda government in the state, he said he was here with an agenda of development and any decision in this regard would be taken by UPA chairperson Ms Sonia Gandhi.

Later on, Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda said the government had ample time and would reorganise the JSEB within the given time frame.

UNI AM KK RN1617