Winter Session: Second supplementary budget in a year, Yogi government’s ‘focus on energy’

The latest supplementary budget, Khanna said, has put impetus on infrastructure, particularly on the energy and power sectors, apart from the upcoming organisation of Maha Kumbh in January next year.

Speaking in the Assembly, the finance minister said that of the total outlay, Rs 8,587 crore has been allocated to the Energy department alone, while Rs 1,592 crore has been set aside for the Family Welfare department.

Special consideration has been given to allocations for the coming Maha Kumbh as well, with Rs 32.48 crore allocated to the Home Department for security arrangements and purchase of vehicles; while another Rs 20.5 crore to the Tourism Department for organising events and exhibitions, the minister said.

Of Rs 8,587 crore alloted to Energy department, a provision of Rs 3,000 crore has been made for funding the losses incurred by the DISCOMS under the RDSS scheme.

Also, a provision of Rs 2,280 crore has been made for additional requirement for revenue compensation grant to UPPCL in the current financial year. Provisions under Power Department also include that of Rs 1,200 crore for improvement of power distribution network.
Provision of Rs 525 crore to UPPCL has been made for uninterrupted power supply during the summer season in the current financial year and for payment of pending amount in respect of price of power purchased.

A provision of Rs 5 crore has been made for investment in UP Renewal and EV Infrastructure Ltd. for construction of charging stations for electric vehicles across the state. Also, Rs 815 crore has been earmarked for additional requirement for payment of subsidy to UPPCL for supply of electricity with 100 per cent discount to private tubewell consumers in the state.

Also, a significant provision has been made for the upkeep of stray cattle in the state — Rs 1,001 crore to the Animal Husbandry department.

Later in the day, raising a question on the need for bringing a supplementary budget, Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra said the government should first table the expenditures of the main budget in the Assembly.

Congress, SP seek debate on ‘power sector privatisation’, minister talks about PPP

Extending its support to the ongoing protests against privatisation in the Power Department, both the Samajwadi Party and Congress raised the issue during Zero Hour in the Assembly, alleging it to be a conspiracy against the consumers.

The two Opposition parties also staged a walk-out over the issue, alleging that the BJP government was not replying appropriately to the concerns raised by it over the issue.

Demanding debate over the issue, Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra said privatisation in the power sector would end the permanent jobs and would merely benefit private companies, and “is against the basic sentiments of a welfare state”. She said the issue was associated with every household as they would end up paying higher electricity rates like in Mumbai.

Replying to the Opposition’s demand, Power Minister AK Sharma asked what was the harm in trying Public Private Partnership (PPP) if loss could be minimised and quality electricity could be given for 24 hours. He said that it was not right to outrightly reject the PPP model.
Adding that discussions are taking place over the issues raised by the Opposition, Minister Sharma said that in 2012, the day SP came to power, they stopped appointments across the state.

Sharma assured that whenever the final decision would be taken it would be for “common welfare” and made with “transparency”. He also assured that interest of the employees would be taken into account once the decision on privatisation is finalized.

Targeting the Congress, Sharma said that before raising the issue, the party should remember that the PPP model was introduced by two former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and Narasimha Rao.