H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Delays cost HPSEB Rs 418 Cr: CAG
SHIMLA, April 25 — Inordinate delay in execution of hydel projects by the state electricity board resulted in cost overruns to the tune of Rs 418.54 crore, besides loss of potential generation of 1601.83 million units over the past two decade.

China urged to free Panchan Lama
SHIMLA, April 25 — The Tibetan Youth Congress and the Tibetan Women’s Association have expressed concern about the continued detention of Gedun Chockyi Nyima, the 11th Panchan Lama, who was taken into custody by the Chinese in May, 1995.

Delays cost HPSEB Rs 418 Cr: CAG
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 25 — Inordinate delay in execution of hydel projects by the state electricity board resulted in cost overruns to the tune of Rs 418.54 crore, besides loss of potential generation of 1601.83 million units over the past two decade.

The board had identified 24 projects with an estimated generation capacity of 4724 MW. However, out of these only the Gaj, Baner and Therot projects were commissioned during the eight plan. Ill-conceived planning, improper funding and indifferent execution also affected work on four mini-micro hydel projects as a result of which only the 2 MW Rongtong project was completed during the plan period. The SAL-II project was given to a private party on a turn key basis and execution of Dodra Kawar project was still awaited. Three other projects Larji, Holi and Ghanvi, with aggregate installed capacity of 144 MW, are under execution and the rest were either not taken up or were transferred to other agencies the Comptroller and Auditory General has pointed out in its latest report.

A delay of 25 months in the completion of SVP Bhaba project more than doubled its cost from Rs 110.58 crore to Rs 239.78 crore, an increase of Rs 129.20 crore. Similarly, the commissioning of Andhra project was delayed for over five years leading to a cost increase from Rs 30 crore to Rs 57.61 crore.

The Gaj project was commissioned 38 months behind schedule leading to a huge cost overrun of Rs 48 crore over the revised estimate of Rs 27.41 crore. The time overrun of 40 months in completion of the Baner project led to an cost escalation of Rs 45.77 crore. The Therot project was delayed by 20 months which increased its cost almost fourfold from Rs 16.52 crore to Rs 60.18 crore.

The delay also resulted in loss of potential generation valued at Rs 8.47 crore.

Substandard supplies made by private company led to frequent breakdowns of machines, causing loss in power generation. For instance the hydraulic power pack of Baner project was found to be defective during pre-commissioning tests leading to a delay of 65 days in commissioning of the unit. This caused a loss of Rs 43.68 lakh. Similarly an inherent defect in the unit-II machine of Gaj project led to a loss in generation during peak season of Rs 87.05 lakh.

Due to delay in completion of the 220 kv transmission line from Khodri to Majri and 220/132 kv substation at Majri the board could not draw its share of power from the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Board and had to sell 604.74 million units at generation cost of 8.3 paise per unit as against average purchase price of 81.11 paise, resulting in a loss of Rs 44.03 crore.

The inability of the board to control its transmission and distribution losses to prescribed limits caused a loss of Rs 49.51 crore. While the Central Electricity Authority has recommended a norm of 15.5 per cent for transmission and distribution losses, the boards losses ranged between 16.28 per cent and 19.20 per cent during 1993-94 to 1998-99.

China urged to free Panchan Lama
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 25 — The Tibetan Youth Congress and the Tibetan Women’s Association have expressed concern about the continued detention of Gedun Chockyi Nyima, the 11th Panchan Lama, who was taken into custody by the Chinese in May, 1995.

In a joint statement issued on the occasion of the 11th birth anniversary of the Panchan Lama, they urged the Chinese authorities to release him without any precondition. They also urged the UN and the international community to step up the campaign to pressurise China to immediately release the Panchan Lama.

They lamented that despite repeated UN pleas, the Chinese had refused to publicly declare the whereabouts of the child. His continued detention was a clear indication of the threat to world peace and complete disregard to international law and its instruments.