Lucknow. On the question of privatization of power companies in the Assembly on Wednesday, Energy Minister AK Sharma said that the government is taking this decision for the benefit of the public. In this, the interests of the employees will also be taken care of. Privatization is being done so that the public gets 24-hour electricity. It is not true that electricity will become expensive due to privatization.
In response to the question asked by SP members Sachin Yadav and Dr. Sangram Yadav about the interests of power employees being affected by privatization, the minister said that in the year 2017 the SP government left a deficit of Rs 1.42 lakh crore on the power department.
We are trying to reduce it. Despite the efforts of all the previous governments, the power department is not running well. Privatization took place in Noida during President’s rule, it was not withdrawn when the SP government came. Similarly, in the BSP government, a decision was taken to bring Torrent Company to Agra. After this the SP government came, you also did not withdraw it.
Till now the services of 3394 meter readers have been terminated
The Energy Minister, while accepting the irregularities in the electricity bills, said that even after strict action, there is no improvement in it. He told that till now the department has terminated the services of 3394 meter readers in the case of wrong readings.
On the question of SP member Mahendra Nath Yadav, the minister said that FIR has been lodged against 28. Apart from this, action has also been taken against 85 regular employees. He said that this situation is due to some acacias already planted.
At the same time, in response to the question asked by SP members Swami Omvesh, Mehboob Ali and Congress member Aradhana Mishra Mona, he said that the department has made complete arrangements for electricity supply in summer. Production is being increased through various options including solar energy.
