PANJIM: For yet another day, a scam exposed by Herald rocked the Assembly.
After the beach cleaning and bitumen scams held up proceedings in the Assembly, on Friday it was the turn of the power scam, exposed by Herald in November last that did the same.
Herald on its edition dated November 5, had reported that around 23 applications for commercial connections were kept pending without any valid reason. Applicants included Reliance, MRF and Funskool.
On Friday, the last day of the budget session, discussion on the pendency of files for load approvals erupted into a heated debate when the opposition benches charged the Power Department of corruption.
MLAs Vijai Sardesai and Vishwajit Rane pointed out to media reports (Herald’s expose in November 2015) that the department was functioning in violation of Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) guidelines by not only delaying clearing the files but also failing to strengthen the required infrastructure.
“Infrastructure strengthening cannot be an excuse for pendency because infrastructure has to be approved after the load approval. The files are kept pending at the Chief Electrical Engineer’s office for reasons best known to the department. There is corruption somewhere,” Sardesai alleged.
He contested Power Minister Milind Naik’s written reply that infrastructure strengthening is needed for releasing pending connections, arguing that in most cases the applicant chooses to set up the infrastructure such as high tension overhead line, underground cable, transformer and other switchgear and equipment at their own cost. “The department does nothing. Where is the planning?” he questioned.
The minister, who stood to reply to the question, had to also face the wrath because of his admission that granting approvals as per JERC guidelines is virtually ‘impossible’. He, however, justified it saying, “The guidelines speak of disposing the files within 90 days and complete feasibility study in 10 days. In any case, feasibility is not possible even in 25 days and the further process is thus delayed. We have feedback from the engineers who are on the job,” he stated.
Sardesai, suspecting foul play in holding back files for several months and years, reiterated his charge of bribery. “There is a fixed bribe price for sanctioning load approvals at Rs 2000 per 1KVA. A normal flat building needs 150-200 KVA where approximately Rs 4 lakh is paid and for 100 flats building that requires 500-600 KVA, about Rs 10-12 lakhs are paid,” he alleged while quickly adding that if not the minister, “someone” is involved in massive corruption.
As BJP MLA Subhas Faldesai stood to ask supplementary question he too had to taste the fury of the opposition legislator. “Why do you have a problem? Are you a partner in this too (corruption),” Sardesai asked triggering a ruckus on the floor of the House with ruling MLAs coming in support of their colleague.
Naik, once again stood to explain the file movement stating that the Divisional Engineer examines the feasibility report received from the Sub-Divisional levels, which is later forwarded to the Superintending Engineer of the concerned Circle Office for onward submission to the CEC’s office for approval.
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte raised a supplementary question demanding to know the electricity duty, infrastructure tax and deposits of the department. “Is tax collection used for infrastructure strengthening? Where are these spent?” he asked.
The minister in response revealed that the ‘duty fund’ is Rs 800 crore so far all of which goes in the ‘common kitty’.
Before the discussion could turn ugly, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar intervened asking the opposition legislators – indirectly hinting at Sardesai and Khaunte – to allow other members to speak and not disrupt the proceedings of the House.
