DC lambasts CM-headed Power Department
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 30 2014 :
All the Government offices located at Tamenglong district headquar-ters except the DC office are being powered by generator sets and such malevolent treatment has anguished the public, the Tamenglong DC said in a strongly worded re-presentation submitted to the State Government.
The situation sounds ironical in the backdrop Chief Mi- nister O Ibobi's vigorous efforts to improve power situa- tion in the State.
With the ob-jective of improving the po- wer supply situation, the Chief Minister during his third term took charge of Po-wer Department.
At the ini- tiative of the Chief Minister, the department was transformed into a corporation and it was unbundled into two companies, one looking after transmission and the other looking after distribution section.
Tamenglong DC C Arthur sent an 11-point representation to the Chief Secretary, Power Commissioner and Managing Directors of transmission and distribution co- mpanies on May 26.A copy of the letter is also in possession of The Sangai Express.
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The DC's representation was in reaction to a press note issued by the Manipur State Power Distribution Company on May 16 which notified that the 132/33 KV power sub-station located at Rengpang has been shut down since May 15 because of some tec-hnical reasons.
Shut down of the sub-station severely affected Tamen- glong town, Tousem, Reng-pang, Nungba, Khongshang and Khoupum, said the DC's letter apart from suggesting certain emergency relief mea-sures.
Distribution of power in Tamenglong district never follows the load shedding schedule and it is not systematic at all.
Repairing of sub-station/transformers by the Power Department took months creating severe inconveniences to public for a prolonged period, the DC pointed out in his letter.
Medical Colony of Tamenglong district headquarters did not get power supply in January, February and the first half of March this year because the transformer was being repaired.
Power supply during the exam period of February, March and April was erratic.
There was power supply for specific periods only when student groups and other pressure groups raised an uproar.
All the offices of the district headquarters have been working without power supply throughout the current month.
On being enquired by the district administration, Power Department came up with such excuses like rainfall, lightning and gale and they took a long time to restore power supply.
When complained against irregular power supply, they blamed it on shortage of staff and vehicles.
But for such works, district administration provided vehicles, said the DC's letter.
The Rengpang power sub-station has been repaired repeatedly since it was commissioned about three years back.
At first they assured to complete the repairing work within a few weeks but it dragged on for months.
The DC office had a very hard time during the 16th Lok Sabha election as no power supply was available at the office.
There was no power supply on the day of counting compelling the staff to switch on generator sets.
Like power supply, collection of power tax is quite irregular in Tamenglong district.
Power bills are delivered in bunches and the department's staff are seldom present at their station.
The district's Executive Engineer was not present at the meeting of DLOs held on February 28 in connection with the 16th Lok Sabha election, elaborated the DC's letter.