By Waquar Hasan,
New Delhi / Patna, 12 Sep 2015: It was the year of 2005 when the people of Bihar gave the reins of the state to Nitish Kumar with lots of hopes. After completion of the first term in 2010, people once more entrusted him with the power to take Bihar on the path of development – the word had gone missing during his predecessor Lalu Prasad Yadav’s regimes. As he is seeking a third term – Bihar is going to polls in Oct-Nov this year – he has presented his 10-year performance report on development.
It is often heard that Bihar has developed more under Nitish rule in comparison to other chief ministers. Perhaps, Biharis also feel it. The Bihar government of Nitish Kumar recently released Report Card 2015 – Development with Justice. It is a detailed account of his claimed achievements during his two terms as chief minister.
Here we are analyzing only three subjects which are seen as hallmarks of development — Electricity, Water and Road.
Electricity
Bihar is considered very backward in electricity availability. There are still many areas in the state where electricity has not yet reached. If electricity is available in some areas, it is only for a few hours. But the government’s report claimed that it has increased the availability hours of electricity.
“In November 2005, the average availability of power in the state was 6-8 hours in urban areas and 2-3 hours in rural area, whereas presently (2015), the average availability of electricity in the state is 22-24 hours in urban and 15-16 hours in rural areas,” the report says.
As far as the improvement of electricity is concerned, a lot of schemes and plans were launched during this ten year duration. “Schemes worth more than Rs 8 thousand crore are being implemented to bring about improvement in the system of generation, transmission and distribution of electricty,” Nitish Kumar claimed in the report.
A lot of works are in progress under different schemes and plans. “Work in progress under different schemes like Special Plan (BRGF), State Plan, DDUGJY, IPDS, ADB to strengthen the transmission lines, Power sub-station and distribution systems,” the report card noted about the work in progress under schemes and plans. The report card also claimed an increase of power capacity ‘from 1000 MW to 4408 MW’ and power sub-station ‘up to 628 from 268′. Total Rs. 820.55 cr. was spent for strengthening transmission and sub-transmission.
The government also tried to develop and utilize alternative source of power like solar system. “9 minor Hydroelectric Projects of 10.7 MW completed by Bihar State Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd. to promote the Non-conventional sources of energy like Hydroelectric, Solar Energy, Bio diesel etc,” the report card noted.
Water
In case of water, the condition of Bihar was also not much better. There were places where people hardly got fresh drinking water. Especially, downtrodden and marginalized sections of people faced this problem. Because of which, they suffered with different kinds of diseases. It is very essential to look into what the government has taken steps in this regard till date. How far it has succeeded?
The government claims in its report that hundreds of thousands houses and schools were provided facilities of drinking water and sanitation. “82,256 rural habitations fully covered with drinking water facilities and 1,87,816 hand pumps installed in rural habitations for drinking water facilities. v 57,982 Hand pumps installed in Primary/Middle schools and 96,712 toilets provided in Elementary schools,” the government’s report noted.
There are various schemes and plans sanctioned for making provide fresh water. The report mentioned various schemes with the amount through which the government tried to provide water as per required. According to ‘Mukhyamantri Chapakal Yojana’ sanctioned during 2012-2013, the government tried to provide five hand pumps per panchayat in rural areas and 1 hand pump per ward in Nagar Panchayat of urban areas.
The report says 1420 schemes related to water supply, hand pumps, wells and tankers completed under Integrated Action Plan amounting to Rs. 12.954 crore.
Road
As far as the condition of roads is concerned, it was also pathetic before he came to power. It was path-breaking job for travelers to move here and there in Bihar. The vehicles faced tough task to pass through roads. The bad condition of the road caused many accidents and crashes between vehicles. Many villages and settlements were far away from road.
The report claims that “From year 2006 to till date, Road Construction Department /Rural Works Department have constructed / improved 66508.46 km of SH, MDR & Rural Roads. For connectivity 5431 nos. small / large bridges has been constructed”.
There is also work of renewal, restoration and improvement of roads. A number of bridges were repaired. The report notes about it “Till June 2015, 2422.92 km surface renewal (PM) work, 332km Minor improvement work along with the repair/renovation of 344 nos. Minor bridges and culvert has been done with a total Expenditure of Rs 765.67 cr”.
About the construction of road in rural areas, the report says that Rural Works Department has constructed 50000 km road at an expenditure of Rs. 25000 crore from 2006 till date.
Despite all these works, Bihar has not yet reached the stage where people can easily fulfill their basic requirements. Lots are to be done in electricity, water and road.
However, the big question is: Will Nitish be able to sell his achievements during the upcoming polls and win people’s trust for third term?
