SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Jan 25: Rattled by continuous power cuts in the seven districts of North Chhotanagpur Division, the area MLAs have announced direct action against the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC).
Education Minister of Jharkhand and JMM MLA of Dumri Jagarnath Mahto has warned to stop water and coal supply to DVC power plants if it fails to restore normal supply of power in the region without any delay.
Education minister, who was inaugurating the power substation in Chandrapura block of Bokaro, also announced to lodge a treason case against officials of DVC.
“DVC power plants run on water and coal of Jharkhand but have put seven districts of its lease-hold area in the dark in the name of a pending bill. People of Jharkhand would not tolerate such arms twisting policy and take direct action,” said the Dumri MLA.
On the other hand, Dhanbad Sadar MLA Raj Sinha of BJP has announced to sit on a 72-hours dharna from January 27 in protest against arbitrary load shedding of DVC.
The BJP MLA today announced to sit on Dharna at Randhir Verma Chowk from January 27 in protest against power crisis created by the 0DVC that has pushed industrialists, traders, students and common men in Dhanbad and Chas (Bokaro) in dire straits.
“For last two months, due to unscheduled load shedding of DVC, people in urban areas are facing drinking water supply problems. Despite repeated requests to the state government and DVC concerned officials, no step has been initiated for relaxation of people from power cuts. So, I have left with no option but to sit on dharna. If the situation does not improve in 72 hours, I would convert it into an indefinite strike,” said Sinha.
As per agreement with the state government, DVC has to supply 600 MW of power daily in 7 districts of Jharkhand but the power company has started power cuts to get their due payment.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand Industries and Trade Association (JITA) President Amitesh Sahay, general secretary Rajiv Sharma, Jharkhand Commerce and Industries Association President BN Singh and Bank More Federation of District Chamber of Commerce’s Surendra Arora and Sohrab Khan sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister for bailing out from the power crisis created by the DVC.
A Maithon based senior official of DVC said that load shedding timing and decisions are being taken at Kolkata headquarters. So, the local authority can’t take any decision on power supply.
