New Delhi: Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal has warned the state governments to ensure that they don’t indulge in any irregular activities that affect Centre’s flagship schemes for rural electrification and urban upgradation of power infrastructure.
Addressing the Ministers and Secretaries of states at a 2-day conference here last week, Goyal said that the government will stop funding states if they are found involved in any irregular activities in procuring materials for the flagship schemes of the Narendra Modi-led government.
“I would request states which are not willing to join the common procurement pool to study its benefits, do an apple to apple comparison, compare the specifications (from central pool) to that being procured with your own specifications, compare the prices before you take any decision. Any irregularity found by us at the Centre could actually cause us to stop the funding to the states which indulge in any activity which are not in the best interest of the people of India,” he said.
Dinadayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana and the integrated power development scheme are largely funding the investments in this rollout of rural electrification and urban upgradation, he said.
The Centre had launched the two schemes with the objectives of ensuring continuous power supply in the country. Under Dinadayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana, the government has decided to invest Rs 756 billion for rural electrification under this scheme whereas under the integrated power development scheme, the government will be spending Rs 45,000 crore nationwide to strengthen sub-transmission and distribution network in the urban areas.
Goyal said that government will be watching and closely monitoring the technology and quality of products that are being bought by the states.
“We will be monitoring the pricing at which these are being bought and transparency with which these are being purchased. Any problems associated with the quality, technology, pricing or corruption that are brought to our notice will be promptly put up on the website (of the ministry),” he said.
So, it is the choice that different states can make, he said, adding, “If you believe that you can do it better than central procurement, you are welcome. But the strength of this programme is the fact that we are all in it together and we are combining our procurement and...combined requirement helps us to do process more honesty and helps us to keep tab on quality control”.
