Akhilesh's new ruse: Announces free power connections for BPL families
There is a severe power crisis in Uttar Pradesh where power cuts range from 8 to 12 hours a day.
Grave
situation
of
Power
supply
in
UP
Power
officials
concede
the
situation
in
the
State
is
pretty
bad
and
that
there
was
a
daily
shortfall
of
more
than
2,400
MW.
On
an
average
summer
day,
the
State
requires
14,185-15,000
MW
of
power
while
availability
is
11,700
MW.
The
yawning
gap
has
led
to
endless
power
rostering.
Of the State's demand for 12,700 Mw, power utilities are able to cater about 10,700 Mw, leaving a shortfall of 2,000 Mw. The State's power utilities are suffering transmission and distribution losses to the tune of 32%, which translates into loss of Rs 7,000 crore per annum to state exchequer. Power utilities of Uttar Pradesh are able to supply electricity for less than 13 hours in urban areas and eight hours in villages.
Notably, the State's share in hydro electricity is 1,677 MW while it gets only 950 MW. The nuclear power generation share of Uttar Pradesh is also not being met with. Uttar Pradesh has a quota of 595 MW in gas turbine power generation while it gets only 98 MW. Officials say the lack of coal supply from Coal India has hit power generation in the State.
Here, the question arises when the State is reeling under severe power crisis and State Government has already conveyed its helplessness in assuring 24X7 power supply, how can he provide free electricity to 1.72 lakh BJP families? From where the Akhilesh Government would arrange this electricity?
Moreover, given the poor track record of Akhilesh in fulfilling promises, the recent promise is not finding any buyers.
Long
list
of
unfulfilled
Akhilesh's
promises
Akhilesh's
two
years
in
office
has
belied
the
expectations
of
voters
who
gave
him
thumping
majority
with
224
seats
in
the
403
member
UP
Assembly.
Akhilesh
began
his
tenure
on
a
positive
note
by
promising
several
transformative
changes.
He
promised
freebies
like
laptops,
unemployment
allowance
and
vidya
kanyadhan
to
young
girls.
But,
over
a
period
of
time
he
has
failed
to
deliver
results.
Soon after the humiliating defeat of the party, Akhilesh quickly put the populist schemes of providing free laptops to students and allowance to unemployed youths on back burner. Also, no provision was also made for the Kanya Vidyadhan scheme, which was launched for unprivileged girl students.
There is no denying the fact that condition of State has deteriorated in every aspect ever since Akhilesh took over the Chief Ministerial post. The poor condition of infrastructure, roads, drinking water worsened despite heavy budgetary allocations, while the power situation dipped to an all time low. Under such situation, we can only hope that Akhilesh's announcement to provide free electricity supply wouldn't be merely a mouth exercise.