Bijendra Prasad Yadav. (File Photo)
Bihar Power Minister Vijendra Prasad Yadav clarified the allegations regarding the electricity bill in a press conference on Thursday. He said that those who are making allegations about the electricity bill. His allegations are baseless. Vijendra Yadav said that smart meters have been installed in the homes of 50 lakh people. If there had been a disturbance, there would have been a storm.
The Power Minister said that due to political grudges some people are alleging wrongdoing. He said that smart meters have been installed in the city, there is no loss of electricity. If the bill is not more here, how will it be more in the village? The minister said that those who have taken illegal connections. Don’t pay the bills, that’s what they say.
Vijendra Prasad Yadav said that Parliament has the right to enact the Electricity Act. Some people allege that by creating companies we have created this law to make profits and exploit the poor. This country is a country with a federal structure. Earlier Electricity Board was also an autonomous body. When the Electricity Act was amended, it was converted into a holding company.
He said that when Bihar was bifurcated, two units of 110 MW were found in Barauni and two units of 110 MW in Part. People question how much our product is. The minister said that Parliament has the right to enact the Electricity Act. No state has its own power house.
He said that coal belongs to the Government of India, Railways belongs to the Government of India. As soon as we arrived, we started construction of 2000 MW units in Nabi Nagar, 500 MW in Barauni and 400 MW in Muzaffarpur. In time, the old people will know that Bihar did not produce more than 60 percent. Agitations and union movements were going on everywhere. We have given it to NTPC. In which an agreement was made with 80 percent power.
It was alleged that the company was being exploited. The work of installing meters started in 2019. The department and the company were working together. We issued a tender, in which 5-6 companies came. The tender rules state that companies will install smart meters and the holding company will pay 10 percent of the bill when it comes. It is guaranteed for the next 10 years and will be maintained by them. Therefore, the allegation of selling the company is baseless. It makes no sense.
In response to a question, he said that Bihar is the first state to install smart meters. Installation of smart meters has started in Maharashtra. The minister said that in democracy there is opposition. When the mobile bill is not high, how can the machine be dishonest? He said that the tender decision was taken by the High Court and the Supreme Court.
Vijendra Prasad Yadav said that a system has been prepared for this on the question of electricity not coming even after paying the bill. He also said that free electricity is given to government officials, this is the decision of the government.
The power minister said that complaints are coming from some places. A system has been developed to overcome this. Our officials are holding meetings among the people. On advance deposit for more than three months, we give double discount on the interest paid to the bank. We do not buy electricity from a smart meter installation company. We buy and sell electricity from NTPC and the market.
He said that the company which installs smart meters at home does not take money from people. Every Monday, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar used to hold Janata Durbar, where complaints about electricity bills were received. The Chief Minister had decided at that time that smart meters would be installed. Recently, people from seven to eight states came to Bihar to see smart meters. The Government of India also told him in several meetings that Bihar should be followed. In many cases the company from Bihar has received the award.
