Imphal, February 03: Faced with the dual task of streamlining erratic power supply and check rampant power theft and tampering of meters by the consumers, State's Electricity Department is all set to devise an efficient mechanism to check all forms of malpractices.

With the Department incurring a loss of Rs 120 crore during the 2006-07 fiscal compared to a meagre revenue yield of Rs 50 crore in the same period, senior engineers would be chalking out plans very soon to effectively implement the Electricity Act 2003 to tackle the worst case scenario.

According to the Department's Chief Engineer BS Chingtham loss of power units worth Rs 70 crore was mainly due to large scale power theft and tampering of meter bills thereby necessitating emergency and stringent measures without which the present scenario would only get worst.

Adding to Department's headache in tiding over the situation is said to be collection of only Rs 10 crore from the consumers contrary to the bill amount of Rs 50 crore.

"We are playing the role of facilitator similar to trading commodities to the public and when the latter fails to reciprocate in the true sense and instead resorts to pilferage possibility of sustaining regular power supply to the consumers is very remote," conceded the officer.

Iterating that to check such rampant malpractices that had rather become a norm than exceptional case in the State, senior Engineers would discuss on effectively translating into action the Electricity Act 2003 .

"Under this Act any person found guilty in commissioning these malpractices is liable for sentence for a maximum period of three years with fine," BS Chingtham cautioned.

Listing consumers of Imphal East and West districts in the top bracket of the power consumption chart at 60 per cent of the total power supply in the State, he stated that along with security force personnel specific drive would be launched in the twin capital districts.

Pointing out that power bill defaulters had been resorting to illegal reconnection even after their lines are snapped, the Chief Engineer confided that surprise drive at nighttime to detect such unauthorised connections would be undertaken.

Informing that the Government is awaiting consent of the president of India with regard to the Manipur Electricity Amendment Act passed by the State assembly and if approved exclusive security facility to deal with the defaulters could be expedited, he reminded that such measure had already been initiated in West bengal.

The system launched earlier to extend incentives to local clubs and NGOs in carrying out tax collection drives would be sustained in a more vigorous manner with certain modification of existing regulations, he added.

For the record, the Chief Engineer said 85 per cent of the entire population have access to electricity and under a Centrally sponsored scheme the whole State would be connected to power in the next couple of years.

He fervently appealed to the public consumers to extend cooperation to the Department's endeavours.

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