VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Oct 3: The MLAs of Jharkhand may soon enjoy free power as the Jharkhand government is considering a proposal to install solar power panels at the official residences of MLAs.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who also holds the power portfolio, is learnt to have assured to make alternative arrangements when MLAs of the ruling alliance raised the matter of the inflated power bill.
During one such meeting of the ruling alliance, some MLAs raised the matter and said that they should be provided free electricity. They face problems due to inflated power bills.
The MLAs said that people of their constituency visit and stay at their residences on a regular basis. Their residence mostly remains a public place and their residence virtually serves as an office. They wanted concessions in the line of other states. Recently, the Bihar government decided to annually give 30000 units of electricity for free.
“We raised a genuine concern. We are not demanding freebies. It is difficult to pay inflated bills because our residences are not normal households. On this, the Chief Minister said that the government is working on a plan for a permanent solution of this matter. He stated that very soon solar panels will be installed at the official residence of MLAs as per the requirement so that power bill is saved,” said an MLA of the ruling alliance.
In the Jharkhand assembly, there are 82 MLAs, including a nominated member. They are provided residence under the assembly or the state government pool.
“The Jharkhand Assembly secretariat provides accommodations at the Russian Hostel where a lump sum power bill is charged as per the number of rooms allotted to any MLA. Besides, there are some housing accommodations at HEC campus which come under the assembly. Here also MLAs have to pay the bill. This is evident from the fact that sitting MLAs have to seek no dues certificate if they intend to contest the election,” said a senior official of the assembly.
The official said that a lot of discussions had taken place on this matter. “Some MLAs insisted that they should not be asked to pay the bill as they are public servants living in a government house. They are working for the people hence they should not pay any bills. But some MLAs said that when the bill is raised against their name they should pay, otherwise it may cause the problem,” said the official.
Similarly, the MLAs who are provided housing under the state government pool have to pay the power bill. In the case of ministers, the government pays the bill.
CPI (ML) MLA Binod Kumar Singh said that in Jharkhand, MLAs have to pay from their pocket. But he said that the MLAs should not insist on free service. “I don’t think that the power bill is so high that MLAs can’t pay. MLAs should not insist on free services. We should rather think for the poor who need free electricity,” said the MLA.
