Anomalies eclipse solar power project

Dhubri

A police official checks out solar light cells Sept. 14: Corruption has extinguished a solar lamp scheme, which could have lit up rural Dhubri and provided power in the most inaccessible corners. The solar light scheme is one of the most ambitious plans under the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Project, sponsored by the Centre. Though the scheme was launched in the country in 2005, it was introduced in Dhubri only in 2007. The main objective of the scheme was to supply power to villages where conventional electricity has not reached and to those living below the poverty line. According to official sources, 2,086 solar lights were sanctioned for Dhubri but because of anomalies in implementation and a subsequent PIL in Gauhati High Court, only 246 have so far been handed over to beneficiaries. The purpose of the scheme was defeated when two organisations of Bilasipara subdivision filed a PIL in Gauhati High Court alleging rampant irregularities by panchayat officials at the behest of local political leaders. Accepting the PIL, the court has now ordered Dhubri police to register a case and investigate the alleged anomalies in implementation of scheme. Sources of both organisations said a solar light costs Rs 14,000, of which Centre’s share of assistance is 90 per cent, while the state government’s share is five per cent. The beneficiary has to give only five per cent to get a solar light. “Though a beneficiary has to shell out only five per cent of total cost, which works out to Rs 700, village touts and panchayat officials collect anything between Rs 4,000 and Rs 5,000 from each consumer. This is only one of the allegations against corrupt officials. There are several other allegations, like lights going to the wrong beneficiaries, direct selling out to private parties and so on,” a source said. A case has been registered in Bilasipara police station and the additional superintendent of police, Hitesh Chandra Roy, has been entrusted with investigating the case. A police official requesting anonymity said investigation was on and was likely to be completed shortly. Three persons, including secretary of Gutipara panchayat, Asraful Hoque, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in anomalies in implementation of the scheme in Hatipota, Chuapota, Masaner-Alga, Kajaikata, Boyjer-Alga villages, the source said.