PDP moves privilege motion in J-K Assembly against state power

Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today moved a privilege motion in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly against the state power minister for providing "false and misleading" information to the House.
"I moved a privilege motion against the minister in-charge of Power for providing completely false and misleading answer to my question," PDP spokesman and MLC Naeem Akhtar said.
Akhter had sought details of amount sanctioned and released for the relief and rehabilitation of affected villages of Kishen Ganga Hydel Project in the Bandipora district of North Kashmir by the government and National Hydel Power Corporation (NHPC).
The Power portfolio is being held by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah himself, while Viqar Rasool is the minister of state for Power.

The Minister in-charge Power in his written reply stated that the relief and rehabilitation plan for the project was under examination of the government.
"However, the NHPC has released Rs 64.91 crore to the Deputy Commissioner Bandipora," the reply said.

Akhtar had asked whether there were any reports of bungling, misconduct, corruption, and poor progress in distributing land compensation and the government had replied in affirmative.
The government said a preliminary enquiry had been registered by CBI on May 8, 2013 to probe the bungling.
"No comments have been received from CBI regarding outcome of preliminary enquiry by Power Development Department," the minister said in his reply.

However, Akhtar alleged the answer was "completely false" as the government had received a report from the CBI on June 18, 2014.
Akhtar gave a copy of the CBI report, submitted to Secretary of General Administration Department, to the Council Chairman Amrit Malhotra and moved a privilege motion against the concerned minister.