“102 J&K villages to get power by March next”

STATE TIMES NEWS
Jammu: Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh on Sunday lauded the BSF for unearthing a 14-feet-long tunnel being dug from across the border and said Pakistan was “desperate” after tasting “defeat militarily and diplomatically”.
Singh’s remarks came a day after the Border Security Force (BSF) unearthed the tunnel at the International Border in the Arnia sector here. The tunnel was being dug from the Pakistani side.
“Pakistan is desperate after it tasted defeat militarily and diplomatically (at the hands of India) along the borders and within Jammu and Kashmir,” Singh told reporters.
Pakistan was left isolated in the world and even China, its closest friend, made it clear that it will not support Pakistan over terrorism, he claimed. Singh said the Islamic countries, whose leadership Pakistan used to claim, have also rejected it over terrorism. Asked about the BSF’s unearthing of the tunnel, Singh said Pakistan was doing everything with the intention of destabilising Jammu and Kashmir and the country.
Singh accused Pakistan of murdering innocent people, indulging in cross-border firing and supporting militancy and terrorism to create instability.
The deputy chief minister lauded the forces for being alert, saying they have scuttled Pakistan’s nefarious designs.
He also hailed the BSF for its timely detection of the tunnel.
“Jammu and Kashmir police, security forces and Army enjoy excellent synergy in dealing with this monster and its proxy war,” Singh said.
That is why Pakistan is not achieving any success, the BJP leader said.
Singh claimed that 54 attempts were made by Pakistan to push armed intruders into the state recently but alert forces foiled 44 such attempts.
“Those who succeeded (in infiltrating) were either killed on the borders or in the hinterland,” he said, adding that over a dozen top militant commanders of various terrorist organisations have been eliminated this year.
“There is a a joke doing the rounds in Kashmir that the post of (militant) area commander or (terrorist) commander is vacant and is there anybody to fill the post…One who gets nominated today is getting eliminated shortly,” he said.
“We are focusing on a multi-pronged strategy to deal with terrorism,” Singh said.
Asserting that the government was prepared to deal with any situation, he said those who speak the language of the gun will be answered in the same manner while those interested in talks and desirous of peace need to come forward with their grievances.
“We have made it clear that a terrorist is a terrorist and will be dealt accordingly,” Singh said.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav have already extended an olive branch to the people desirous of peace in Jammu and Kashmir during their recent visits, Singh said.
Referring to various initiatives being taken to improve power across the State, Prof Singh assured the electrification of 102 villages by March next year and 2.70 lakh households by 2019 under a central government scheme.
Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the power portfolio, said for the first time in the country, helicopters were used to install electricity transmission towers while laying the Jalandhar-Samba and Samba-Amargarh lines.
A survey based on the last census put the number of houses without power supply at 2.70 lakh, he added.
The minister, however, clarified that the first phase would cover the panchayat ghar, Public Health Engineering Centre, school, medical centre and 20 per cent of the households.
“While 52 villages — 11 in Kashmir and 41 in the Jammu region — would receive power by December, the other 50 would be electrified by March,” he said.
Asked about the challenges in laying power lines in the Valley, the deputy CM said lack of manpower, inhospitable weather and terrain, and terrorism were some of the problems the department faced in far-flung areas.
“The department is working very hard meet the deadline despite roadblocks,” he said.
Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his initiatives, including the ‘Saubhagya’ scheme to supply electricity to the poor in the country, Singh said various centrally sponsored projects, worth Rs 11,000 crore, were being implemented in the state.
He said the electrification of three villages, including Kali Masta in Ramban district, has been completed.
The power minister further said that a meeting has been scheduled on October 10 to review various projects announced by the prime minister for the state. “We have invited Union power minister R K Singh to join the meeting,” he said.
Singh said the central government has given special concession to Jammu and Kashmir. “Instead of 60 per cent grants and 40 per cent loan, as is the norm in the rest of the country, Jammu and Kashmir will get 85 per cent grants and 15 per cent loan under the ‘Saubhagya’ scheme,” he said.
Seeking cooperation of the people, Singh said, “Our attempt is to provide quality service to the consumers and we are working on improving the infrastructure.”
On transmission and distribution losses, Singh said 22,146 inspections were conducted in the state this year during which 12 MW load was regularised in the Jammu region and 10.5 MW load in Kashmir.
“We are working on a major project to improve the infrastructure and minimise the losses. The inspection has revealed that even the government offices were not paying monthly fee,” he said, adding the losses have been minimised to a large extent and the government departments are not included in the list of defaulters anymore.
Asked about Rs 1.87-crore outstanding bill of a prominent hotel here, Singh said, “If I have utilised power, I have to pay. Similarly, if the hotel has dues pending, it needs to clear the bill. Rules are same for everyone,” he said.