Power tax of about Rs 30 lakh not credited to State's account
Fitting action against guilty lined up
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 29 2015 : Power tax collected from consumers amounting to about Rs 30 lakh by the Power Dept before the corporatisation of the Department has not been credited to the State's account.

Significantly, the authority concerned has initiated a probe into the matter and assured to take fitting action against employees involved in the alleged scam.

According to an official source, the fact that power tax amounting to about Rs 30 lakh was not credited to the State account came to light after a surveillance team of the Power Distribution Company looked into various subordinate divisional offices not long after the corporatisation of the department.

The Power Department, it may be mentioned, was corporatised with two division, one the distribution company and a transmission company since February last year.

The source further said that some staff of the company's divisional offices at Bishnupur and Nambol have misappropriated huge amount of power tax collected from the consumers instead of crediting the same to the State account.

Picture of a pre-paid metre box

In order to establish the fact, the Company has started an enquiry into the matter.

The source also said that fitting action would be taken against any officials of the company found involved in the scam.

Few employees who are soon to retire from services are among the officials reportedly involved in the misappropriation of the fund.

Some employees said to be involved in the case have offered to repay the amount misappropriated, the source added.

The Power Distribution Company has also reportedly informed the Govt about the non-credit of huge amount of power tax.

On the other hand, the Govt is likely to seek detailed report from the Company about the misappropriation of huge amount of power tax and on matter relating to maintaining public trust.

The Govt is also likely to seek details from the company about the period for which the huge amount of power tax was accrued.

Meanwhile, three power thieves were pulled up during a drive by the Bishnupur division of Manipur State Power Distribution Company today.

At the same time, power thieves who were pulled up yesterday were freed after a Court slapped them with a fine of Rs 20,000 each.

Three individuals were pulled up today for connecting power bypassing prepaid meter route during the drive conducted by staff of Bishnupur division of MSPDC and police.

The arrested individuals were handed over to Nambol PS.

The arrested individuals are L Mina Devi of Kabowakching, H Tolen Singh of Phoijing and Ng Ingo of Kabowakching.

Three others were also arrested during the drive yesterday.

They were granted bail after they were produced before the CJM, Bishnupur.

They were also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 each.

The Court also directed the police to frame charge-sheets against them before May 13 .