Govt inflates additional power bill by Rs 1,000 cr
Saturday, 11/08/2012
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120811/punjab.htm#4
Chandigarh: When asking for money, it is best to inflate. Punjab seems to have followed this maxim while presenting its case before Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today.
The government, which had earlier in a written submission to the Centre demanded a Rs 2,380 crore financial package to offset the effects of a deficient monsoon, now wants Rs 5,112 crore for the purpose.
In its memorandum to the Centre, it had earlier claimed that a sum of Rs 1,530 crore was required for additional power to farmers for the kharif season. This included Rs 716 crore on purchasing additional short-term power between June and September this year and Rs 814 crore on additional power to be purchased in August and September.
In the memorandum handed over to the Pawar committee by ministers Adesh Partap Singh Kairon and Janmeja Singh Sekhon, the government has demanded a compensation of Rs 2,531 crore.
Besides Rs 1,531 crore on account of additional power purchased during the paddy season, now Rs 500 crore has been calculated as the loss to state revenue on account of diversion of power to the agriculture sector and Rs 500 crore on the additional power to be purchased in winter because of low hydro generation. The manner in which the compensation calculated for the state electricity utility has increased by more than Rs 1,000 crore in a few days has raised some an eyebrow. Punjab’s record on the issue of distribution of central assistance has been dismal. In 2009, the Centre gave a Rs 800 crore drought relief to Punjab. Following an agitation by the BKU (Rajewal) the state released only Rs 150 crore to the farmers. The rest of the money was given to the state electricity utility for the additional power purchased by it.
Besides Rs 2,531 crore on account of additional power purchase, Punjab has sought Rs 850 crore to compensate farmers for the additional cost incurred on purchase of diesel, Rs 893 for conversion/rescheduling of cooperative credit, Rs 300 crore on account of additional ground water irrigation, Rs 300 crore for installation of alternative tubewells, Rs 211.60 crore for arrangement of fodder for the livestock and Rs 26 crore for drinking water supply.
Besides this, Kairon also demanded a bonus of Rs 100 per quintal for paddy over and above the MSP, a significant upward revision.
Kairon said the MSP of cotton should be raised by Rs 500 per quintal over and above the MSP announced this year. He also demanded a drought relief of Rs 200 per quintal for maize.
