Due power bill crosses Rs 10 crores in 'blackout' Tamenglong
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Daniel Kamei

Tamenglong, June 23 2014: Though the people have been complaining over 'chronic' irregularities in power supply, which is again interrupted by prolonged blackout for months in between, it is said that the outstanding due bill to be cleared by consumers of power in Tamenglong district has crossed Rs 10 crores.

Though the exact figure of the due bill amount could not be accessed as officials do not station in their respective place of posting, it is estimated that the accumulated power bill to be collected by the office of the Electricity Department, Tamenglong from power consumers in the district has already crossed Rs 10 crores.

When contacted over the phone, Assistant Engineer (Electrical), Tamenglong Suresh said that he did not know the exact figure, but he was sure that crores of rupees are now overdue.

Suresh told Hueiyen Lanpao to wait for three days to get the full details.

However, the attempt to get the details has remained in vain as his mobile phone remained switch off since then.

Meanwhile, sources in the office of Electricity Department, Tamenglong division disclosed that many consumers are not clearing their due electrical bill, which is only amounting with every passing month.

Sources also confirmed that the due payment must have crossed Rs 10 crores by now.

It is said that there are 3012 households in Tamenglong and Tamei Blocks, which have power connection, but hardly 374 of them clear their electrical bill regularly.

Those households which are paying electrical bill are government employees only, as they are forced to produce 'NO DUE CERTIFICATE' from the Electricity Department for drawing their monthly salary.

The rest of households in Tamenglong block and Tamei block are using electricity as un- authorized consumers.

It is also these unauthorised consumers who never care to switch off the bulbs and other electrical appliances in their houses even during the day time when power is not required.

As a consequence, the government has not upgraded the 3-KV power transformer at Tamenglong Power station even though the small power transformer is no longer sufficient for supplying power to the whole district.

At least, a 5 KV power transformer would be required now for ensuring regular supply of electricity to the whole district.

Many of the villages in Tamenglong district are yet to get power connection.

It is said that not even a single household in Tousem Sub- Division has deposited the required application or amount to get electricity connection.

Interestingly, like most Government Departments, the office of the Tamenglong Electricity department is working in a pathetic condition.

With all the heads/ officials of the Department stationing at Imphal, local staffs (Grade- III) in the office have to wait for telephone call for any work or for consultation in connection with the office works as the officials seldom pick up their land line as well as mobile phones to any call made.

In such a situation and style of working, efforts to conduct drive for collection of due electrical bill or against unauthorised connection as done in Imphal and its surrounding area from time to time, are still far cry in Tamenglong district.

On the other hand, a man who does not want to be identified alleged that there are lots of corruption going on in the office of the Electricity Department, Tamenglong Division as well.

"If the lineman comes with a billing for Rs.30,000, one can give just Rs.300 or Rs 400, he quietly goes away happily", the man said.

Meanwhile, in an open letter to the EE (Elect), Tamenglong, General Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morch (BJYM), Tamenglong unit, Saul Kamei has demanded exemption of the electrical bill of the consumers in Tamenglong district for the month of May and June 2014 during which they experienced total blackout.

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