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| J&K embarrasses Central Government | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 27: The State Government did embarrass the Centre government by making political and highly contentious demand of handing back power projects commissioned on the rivers of the State in front the Chief Ministers of the States.
Speaking at National Development Council (NDC) meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister itself, Finance Minister AR Rather said: "…. The State should be compensated or the losses suffered by the J&K State due to discrimnary provision of Indus Water Treaty….a beginning in this regard could be made by returning the Power Projects Commissioned on the State rivers.
"To begin with, Dulhasti Hydro Electric Project and Salal HEP could be transferred to the State Government," he added.
These projects have been executed and constructed by NHPC on the counter guarantee given by Centre. The projects were constructed as the State Government didn't have finances and expertise to construct them.
The projects have in fact contributed to the development of the State and had also helped it economically. The State Government is getting its share from the power under the rules which are standard across the nation where ever NHPC has constructed the power projects.
However, the State Government, apparently to show its distinction under Art 370, demanded more than the regular share.
The State Government had said : "…quantum of free power (Home State Share) available from the Central Generating Stations, set-up within the State, to a minimum of 25% against the present free power of 12 %."
The State Government had been raking up this issue due to political considerations rather than economic sense. PHE Minister has been particularly insistence on this demand but till now had not been supported in the Cabinet meetings.
In a fact a Cabinet note on this regard had tacitly ignored the demand and had in fact also rejected it.
The State Government in full knowledge of it, raked it up to politically pressurize the Centre for doling out financial assistance much needed for the State plan.
The State Government didn't make any substantial remark about improving governance, the way Modi did, or about improving rural development schemes, but harped more on financial assistance for which it used water as a political tool. |
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