Hardwar MLAs allege discrimination by Uttaranchal govt

Hardwar MLAs allege discrimination by Uttaranchal govt
S.M.A.KAZMI

Dehra Dun, Jan 16: A Power system of its own and the prevailing power situation in the newly created hill state of Uttaranchal dominated the discussion on the second day of the session of the interim assembly here today. The state government had to ultimately admit that Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation held control over the system and the arrangement will continue so till the new state got its own power corporation.

Replying to a question by unattached legisaltor Munna Singh Chauhan during the question hour, state Energy Minister Bhagat Singh Khoshiyari said that due to interruption in power supply from Uttar Pradesh, Garhwal region was getting daily power supply for 18 hours, Kumoan region for 16 to 18 hours and Hardwar district only for 8 hours a day.

The Minister's reply was enough to provoke the legislators from Hardwar district into saying that their district was being discriminated against. Most vocal amongst them were Ram Singh Saini, and Qazi Mohiuddin, leaders of Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party respectively.

Ambrish Kumar, another legislator from Hardwar alleged that the power supply to the district was not for more than two hours daily. Saini said that the wheat crop of the district was suffering due to continued power cuts.

Khoshiyari said that registration for the new power corporations has already been done and discussions with the Power Minister of Uttar Pradesh are on. He announced that a high-level meeting will be held on February 10 with the mother state to sort out the issue.

Speaker Parkash Pant later asked the Energy Minister to give a detailed statement on the power situation.

Munna Singh Chauhan and Ram Singh Saini alleged that paddy farmers were forced to sell their produce at a low price in the absence of procurement by government agencies. Defending the state government, Energy and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Khoshiyari said that adequate arrangementshad been made to procure paddy at the support price of Rs 510 per quintal and a sum of Rs 52 crore had been earmarked for the purpose. Indira Hariydesh of Congress quizzed the government on the reported move to grant special status to Uttaranchal. Finance Minister Ramesh Pokriyal Nishank gave details of the meetings between the Central leaders and Planning Commission.

Chief Minister Nityanand Swami said that the issue would be discussed at the meeting of the National Development Council. The adjournment motion brought by Indira Hariydesh -- on the issue of double taxation for the traders -- was turned down by the Speaker. The Finance Minister replied that the problem had been solved to a great extent with the opening of many depots. Similar adjournment motions moved by Ambrish Kumar and Munna Chauhan on the issue of hike in college fee in Hardwar and grants to the private recognised schools were also rejected by the Speaker.

Interestingly, Speaker Parkash Pant reserved his ruling on the point of propriety raised by Munna Singh Chauhan. Chauhan was of the view that those Members of the Legislative Council who have been nominated as members of the interim Assembly, cannot take oath as elected members. Chief Minister Nityanand Swami explained that both MLAs and MLCs are deemed members of the interim Assembly as per the UP Reorganisation Act, 2000 passed by Parliament and there was no impropriety involved.