NGO seeks action against defaulter power companies

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, July 3

“People’s Voice”, a voluntary organisation (NGO), on Wednesday urged the state government to initiate a legal action against power companies who have failed to deposit lease money and dues amounting to over Rs 100 crore in the state exchequer in the past 10 years.

The general house of the Peoples Voice which met here last night also passed a resolution to this effect and copies were sent to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Governor Kalyan Singh.

Daleep Sharma, Neelam Sood and KB Rahlan, spokespersons of People’s Voice, said these power companies had already encroached upon thousands of acres of government land but failed to deposit lease money in the state exchequer because of certain bottlenecks. They said it was matter of concern that most of the power projects had already been commissioned, generating power and also earning profits but deliberately not deposited lease money and other funds like the catchment area development plan fund and local area development plan funds in the state exchequer.

They said these companies had strong nexus with officials of the Forest and Revenue Departments who remained a silent spectator, failed to initiate any action against defaulter companies and allowed them to drain the state’s exchequer.

The NGO also raised doubts the way forest officials waived penalties and compensation imposed on power companies for causing huge loss to forest wealth and environment while dumping muck and debris in forest lands.