Centre refutes UP’s claim of Nagla Fatela electrification

New Delhi, Aug 17 (PTI) Shifting blame to Uttar Pradesh,Power Minister Piyush Goyal today made public documents toshow Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s electrification claim forNagla Fatela village was based on information from the stateand alleged that the government there was hiding its own"inefficiencies by blaming the Centre". Besides, Rural Electrification Corp, which comes underhis ministry, sought clarification from UP’s DakshinanchalVidyut Vitaran Nigam Ltd (DVVNL) on reports about no powerconnections having been given to households, though the firmin October 2015 certified the village as electrified afterlaying of infrastructure using central funds. While talking about his government’s achievement, Modi inhis Independence Day speech from the Red Fort claimed of hugesuccess in bringing electricity to more villages and citedexample of Nagla Fatela, three hours from Delhi, gettingelectricity after more than 70 years. This led to a political row, with the Uttar Pradeshgovernment claiming the village had already been electrifiedin 1985. However, some reports have suggested that the villageis yet to get fully-electrified. Countering the state government claims, Goyal said if thevillage in Hathras district was electrified way back in 1985,how come the village was in a series of reports from the statedating up to November 2013 identified among unelectrified onesand proposed to be provided with power using central fund. The State Level Standing Committee headed by ChiefSecretary had in a note on November 13, 2013 shown the villageunelectrified. A letter was sent by Managing Director of DVVNL (statepower distribution company) to Central Government nodal agencyREC for inclusion of Hathras in the Rural Electrificationscheme. Nagla Fatela was shown as unelectrified village withzero households electrified, he said. The Centre, he said, approved fund allocation for theelectrification in January 6, 2014 and utilising Central fundstransmission line and other equipment were installed byOctober 20, 2015. DVVNL certified completion of electrification, he saidadding after that it is the responsibility of the stategovernment to supply electricity. "Clearly, Uttar Pradesh government is trying to hide itsinefficiencies and inadequacies by blaming the Centre," Goyalsaid. (MORE) PTI KKS ANZ BJMR