Question Hour
By Arun Pratap Singh
Gairsain, 23 Aug: Intervening in the discussion on prepaid electricity meters in the state during the Question Hour, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh tried to convince the members that the proposed system in the state is being considered in the greater interest of the state and the consumers. Dhami made this remark during discussion a short notice question asked by Congress member Mamta Rakesh.
Mamta Rakesh had claimed that this prepaid meter system was not in the interest of the farmers, who do not have regular and monthly sources of income. They would not be able to get the meters recharged because of this, or in anticipation of receivable dues. She also alleged that farmers in general and the sugarcane farmers don’t get their dues against their produce in time and, therefore, it will not be possible for them to get their electricity meters recharged on a monthly basis and as a result, they will face disconnection or no power supply. She also claimed that, in some states like UP, the farmers are getting 24 hours free power supply. She also apprehended that monthly billing system introduced recently in the state results in more expensive power for the consumers as compared to bimonthly billing.
Dhami, who is also the Power Minister, in his response asserted that the power tariff is fixed by the Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) and change of billing cycle to a monthly basis will not affect the consumers. He also said that, in case the recharge of the consumer finishes during the nighttime or on a holiday, the power supply will not be cut and the consumer can get his or her meter recharged on the next working day. The cost of the power consumed during the intervening period will automatically be adjusted from the account of the consumers after the recharge. He also stated that the consumers will have the option to get their meters recharged through mobile applications. Prepaid consumers will also get a discount of 4 percent in case of domestic connections. He also added, that in case of prepaid connections, the need for security deposit for the connection will also be done away with.
Intervening in the discussion, Dhami shared that the prepaid meter system also has an alarm system to inform the consumers about need to recharge in advance. He said that a decision will be taken according to the financial resources regarding relief to the farmers in the bill or taking other steps. He also said that the problems related to high electricity bills and faulty meters will also be resolved soon.
Earlier, in response to a short notice question by newly elected Congress MLA Lakhpat Singh Butola, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prem Chand Aggarwal stated that 10 villages and semi urban settlements in Badrinath Assembly constituency have been affected due to disasters during the current monsoon season so far. In all, 60 roads were blocked due to the disaster, out of which traffic has been restored on 48 roads already, while work is underway to open the remaining roads for traffic at the earliest.
Aggarwal also stated that 41 families from Urgam Badginda, six from Bola, three each from Ropa and Bhadkoti and four families from village Godigivala have been displaced due to disaster in the Badrinath constituency. He claimed that the government is working seriously to deal with the disaster. During the same short notice question, Deputy Leader of Congress Legislative Party Bhuvan Chandra Kapri raised the issue of waterlogging and collapse of a cowshed in Khatima, as it had been set up in a low-lying area. In his response, Animal Husbandry Minister Saurabh Bahuguna informed the house that the tender for construction of a cowshed in Khatima has been cancelled. Bahuguna sought the cooperation of Kapri in identifying suitable land for establishing the cowshed. He also added that all the cows and calves had been moved by the Animal Husbandry Department in time before the water logging and saved.
Harldwani MLA Sumit Hridayesh wanted to know about the construction of safety wall on three major drains of Haldwani. Leader of the Opposition wanted a detailed discussion on the disasters in the state, and on his demand, Speaker Ritu Khanduri assured him that she would hear the matter under Rule 58 related to suspension on its admissibility for thirty minutes later.
In response to a starred question of Sanjay Dobhal, Horticulture Minister Ganesh Joshi admitted that some farmers totalling about 802 were yet to receive insurance claims filed by them for damage to their apple crops in district Uttarkashi. He added that, in Barkot assembly constituency, in 2022-23, 138 farmers had filed insurance claims against losses due to hailstorm and, of these, 109 farmers had been paid a total amount of Rs 8.94 lakhs by the insurance companies. In response to a supplementary question by Vikasnagar MLA Munna Singh Chauhan, Ganesh Joshi assured him due action would be taken against the Insurance company for not paying the claims if they fail to do so by 31 August. Chauhan did not however appear to be convinced by the response. He wanted to know if the defaulting insurance companies had been banned or not, to which Joshi responded that the government had taken this step but the insurance company managed to get a stay order against being blacklisted from the High Court.
In response to a starred question by Doiwala MLA Brijbhushan Gairola, Fishery Minister Saurabh Bahuguna stated that the budget for fisheries in the state has been constantly hiked under the rule of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. From a budget of merely Rs 41 crores years ago, it has been raised to Rs 151 crores and he thanked the Centre also for approving an Aqua Park for the state which is only the fourth state in the country to get such a mega project. Under this project, for the first time, a hatchery for producing fish seed (eggs) of Tilapia fish will be set up as it is a fast-growing fish and also a hatchery will be set up for ornamental fish which has become a big business with good employment opportunities.
