Tripura Set For Power Corporation

ENDEAVORING to strike a steadfast balance between implementation of unavoidable structural reforms (forced by the central government) and protection of people’s interests, the Left Front government in Tripura has taken concrete steps towards corporatisation of the state’s power sector. It has, however, not budged an inch from its commitment for the welfare of the people and comprehensive development of the state in the teeth of tremendous odds.

This unmistakable hallmark of a Left Front government was writ large on the February 6 inauguration ceremony of the newly constructed Vidyut Bhavan building in Agartala. Constructed at a cost of about Rs 92 lakh, this building houses the headquarters of the state government’s power department. It was inaugurated by chief minister, Manik Sarkar, in a ceremony presided over by the state’s power minister, Manik Dey. The finance minister, Badal Chowdhury, was the chief guest.

In his inaugural address Manik Sarkar gave a fervent call for combating pilferage of power and ensuring its efficient generation, transmission and distribution, as a healthy power sector was crucial for the progress of the state, especially in the backdrop of the ongoing development process in Tripura.

Announcing  that the Electricity Regulatory Commission will come into force this very month and the Power Corporation will take over by next June, consequent to the centre’s forcible imposition of Memorandum of Agreement on the state government, the finance minister, Badal Chowdhury, alerted the people of the tough days ahead. He cautioned the employees in the power sector against any slackness in work in an atmosphere of cutthroat competition.

In his presidential address, the power minister, Manik Dey, held out the hope that the state’s upcoming Power Corporation will attain success through the employees diligent discharge of duties and people’s cooperation.

HEALTH FAIR

The second family welfare and health-care fair was inaugurated on the same day at Agartala Children’s park with the slogan “Sound health, the essential pre-requisite for human resource development”. A total of 112 stalls, both government and non-government, were put up in the fair. Health awareness drive and free health care, including sophisticated investigation facilities, were organised in the fair, which concluded on February 10. A blood donation camp and various cultural contests also figured in the fair, which was funded by CPI(M) Lok Sabha member, Khagen Das, from his MP Local Area Development fund.

In his inaugural address at the ceremony, Manik Sarkar, gave a fervent call for effectively utilising the state government’s good infrastructure for providing quality health care to the people, as also the state government’s ceaseless endeavour for extension of such facilities to the furthest corner of Tripura. Pointing out the centre’s privatising predilection in his presidential address, health minister, Tapan Chakraborty, affirmed that health care facility is a primary human right. He gave a fervent call for private enterprises and NGOs to work hand in hand with the state government in the health sector.

Although, according to the centre’s guidelines, just a single fair can be held per MP Local Area per year, both Manik Sarkar and Tapan Chakraborty announced in their speech that the state government will organise such fairs in every sub-division in the days to come.

Meanwhile, in a press conference held on February 6 at the civil secretariat, finance minister, Badal Chowdhury, announced the Left Front cabinet’s decision that with effect from April 1 all employees and pensioners of the state government and its undertakings will be given another installment of DA. The fixed pay employees’ emolument was also substantially raised, entailing an additional annual expenditure of Rs 66.40 crore from the state’s exchequer. Replying to a question, he remarked that although the state government hopes its employees will conscientiously discharge their duties, work culture cannot be linked to DA which is an employee’s human right. He also announced the cabinet decision to waive the state’s traders’ sale tax dues prior to June 1, 2003, for commodities from Bangladesh.