Nirupam to make presentation on power situation to Left MLAs

Facing criticism over frequent powercuts during Higher Secondary examination and boro cultivation, West Bengal Power minister Nirupam Sen has decided to make a power-point presentation to Left Front MLAs to enable them to apprise their constitutents of the situation. "Nirupam Sen will make a power-point presentation to Left Front MLAs, covering both the generation and transmission aspects. This will help them apprise their constituents of the situation," government chief Whip Md Masih said today. Earlier, Congress Legislature Party leader Manas Bhuinya criticised Sen, saying his handling of the power situation had put Madhyamik examinees as also 'boro' cultivators in crisis.

"Kerosene meant for public distribution is being smuggled to Jharkhand, Bihar and Orissa and also to fishing trawler operators in Digha. With kerosene out of reach, candles are being sold in the black market," Bhuinya said. Describing Sen as a 'failure' who was given charge of the power department to fulfil the district-wise quota of ministers, Bhuinya said he was writing to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee requesting him to remove him as the power minister and take charge of the department. While admitting that parts of the state were witnessing powercuts, the government chief whip said this was mainly because of supply of substandard coal in thermal stations and problems relating to transmission. "I would like to know who are preventing setting up of poles for power lines, or opposing land acquision for sub-stations," he said.