Residents of BSP Township still await implementation of Half Bijli Bill scheme

 

 

 

Residents of the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) Township have expressed their dissatisfaction as the promised Half Bijli Bill Scheme, announced by the State Government in August, is yet to be implemented, despite the promised start date of September 1. This delay in delivering the scheme’s benefits has raised concerns. It’s worth noting that all the required approvals for transferring power supply responsibilities to the Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL) remained pending at the SAIL level. This delay, along with power theft and encroachments, has negatively impacted the living conditions in the township. The Half Bijli Bill Scheme for BSP Township residents was announced on August 11, with the intended implementation date of September 1. This scheme aimed to extend benefits to township residents, previously excluded due to BSP’s direct electricity supply. However, as of now, the scheme has not been put into action, leading to growing discontent among township residents.

 

In response to these concerns, Devendra Yadav, Bhilai MLA, cited technical delays as the cause of the implementation delay. He assured that the scheme would be enacted within a day or two, ensuring benefits to all domestic consumers in the township. He emphasized that the State Government has a track record of implementing various schemes for the betterment of the populace without discrimination, and there is no need to worry about political competition. Mukesh Chandrakar, president of Bhilai Jila Congress, also attributed the delay to technical issues and expressed confidence that the scheme would soon be implemented for the residents’ benefit. He urged people across the State, including BSP Township, to have faith in the Congress government, considering its development works. However, Prem Prakash Pandey, a former Cabinet Minister, accused the Congress government of playing politics with the announcement of the Half Bijli Bill Scheme during election time. He called for the immediate implementation of the scheme to benefit the residents.

 

To the ongoing issues of power theft and encroachment in the township, Pandey suggested the need for measures to combat these malpractices and a strategy for the proper settlement of these issues. Brijesh Bichpuriya, president of BJP Bhilai Jila, criticized the Congress government for allegedly neglecting the welfare of BSP Township residents and claimed that BJP representatives have consistently worked for their betterment. DVS Reddy, Vice President of the Hindustan Steel Employees Union (CITU), expressed disappointment with the delay in implementing the Half Bijli Bill Scheme. He noted that government representatives, regardless of their party affiliation, have often occupied residences in the township but have failed to genuinely address the issues faced by its residents. V B Singh, General Secretary of the Steel Employees Union (INTUC), acknowledged the technicalities involved in the scheme’s implementation and expressed hope for its realization in the near future. As the residents of BSP Township continue to await the promised Half Bijli Bill Scheme, concerns regarding power theft and encroachments persist and it will also have an implication of the election in Bhilai constituency