PANJIM: Four days after Herald broke the story that Power Minister Milind Naik has been clinging on to files for load approvals (new commercial connections), the new Chief Electrical Engineer has swung into action and started clearing the files.
Herald on its edition dated November 4, had reported that around 23 applications for commercial connections were kept pending without any valid reason. Applicants included Reliance, MRF and Funskool.
Sources in the department said that Chief Electrical Engineer Deepak Bhajekar, who was out on a official two-day trip to Kochi, had instructed officials to put up all the pending files “Today, he cleared around five files, including that of MRF, Funskool, which are of a lower load,” sources told Herald.
Sources said that CEE has also asked that the other files be put up. When contacted Bhajekar confirmed that the process of clearing the files has begun. “Our job is to clear the files and I am doing it,” he said.
He further said, “We have so far cleared around 4 to 5 files, and the rest will be cleared in some time.”
Asked how much more time would be required to clear the files, Bhajekar said, “Give me some time. I have already started the process. Let me study the files and we will do it, don’t worry.”
Sources in the secretariat said that Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has also shown concern on the issue as he is making efforts to attract industry to the State.
“The Chief Secretary is also learnt to have questioned the Chief Electrical Engineer on the delay in clearing the files,” sources said.
Applications of industry bigwigs like Reliance Infrastructure, MRF (second file), Varun Beverages, Infiniti, Kartini, Cosme Biotech etc are pending.
A file from MRF, Usgao is pending from February 2014, Infiniti Modules from December 2013 and Karangate Developers from October, 2013.
Sources further said that some of the industries in the State are running on diesel generator sets and this is not commercially viable as the running costs amount to Rs 24 per unit whereas the commercial connection of the Power department is priced at Rs 3.5 per unit.
