Snap power connection of defaulters
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: February 26, 2025 -

AS life in this age of technology is unimaginable without electricity, it is suggested that the power department go ahead and start disconnecting power supply of defaulting consumers and government institutions in case the pending dues are not cleared within stipulated period.

Some four decades back, barring the elected representatives and top bureaucrats, power supply was a priceless commodity for the common man.

It was amid such sickening situation and that people took it with a pinch of salt whenever the then chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, also in-charge of power, commented about the government plan to supply power 24 hours a day.

Indeed, the erstwhile government's move to convert the existent electricity department to a corporation faced stiff resistance from the employees as they feared that the policy was intended towards privatisation of the department, and if materialised would ultimately lead to their retrenchment.

Another reason for the employees' apprehension was that they would encounter hostile consumers when asked to clear the power dues.

In-spite of the objections raised and demonstrations staged by the employees coupled with stray ugly incidents when recalcitrant consumers were pulled up during special drives, the government went ahead with the bifurcation of the department into two units subsequently ushering a new era of power supply adequacy which in turn led to rapid increase in small scale industrial units.

On account of its many applications electricity is now not only considered indispensable but has also impacted our lives so much that it is difficult to imagine life without it.

Moreover, prior to introduction of the prepaid meter system and later bifurcation of the Electricity Department into Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (MSPDCL) and Manipur State Power Corporation Limited (MSPCL), frequent power cuts and daily load shedding used to be the norm.

Thus, to prevent return of those dark days, it is imperative that the MSPDCL take proactive measures for regular supply of electricity, sustain the drive against power theft and other malpractices and cut off power supply in case the defaulters do not pay heed to the Corporation's appeal for clearing outstanding dues.

Apart from urging the consumers to keep the habit of regular payment of dues at the designated offices, MSPDCL managing director H Shantikumar has cautioned the public not indulge in power theft, bypassing, hooking, or any unauthorised usage of electrical energy, including power connections on the sly, all implying the presence of unscrupulous individuals, who are least worried that such malpractices might result in frequent power outages and affect the honest consumers.

Therefore, with theft of electricity classified as a cognizable offence under Section 135 of the Electricity Act, 2003, there is no valid reason for the MSPDCL not to promptly disconnect power supply of the defaulting party.

The same rule should also be applied on government departments and institutions having outstanding dues as priority should be in addressing the malaise of power theft and mounting debts so as to improve electricity supply with efficient distribution, reasonable price and reliable generation with due consideration to the environment.