No due certificates (power) available in pan shops: CE
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 24 2011: Power Department Chief Engineer N Sarat today admitted that he has learnt about availability of no due certificates, which should be compulsorily furnished by State Government employees every six months at the time of drawing salaries, at pan shops.

He was speaking at a one-day electricity consumers' awareness workshop organised by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission of Manipur and Mizoram in collaboration with the Electricity Department and the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union at the State Guest House here today.

At the workshop moderated by senior journalists Irengbam Arun, Chief Engineer Sarat presented a paper on the topic "Issues and challenges in power supply management, probable ways and means for improvement of power sector" .

The Chief Engineer stated that the Electricity Department would take certain actions with regard to the availability of no due certificates in pan shops.

Stating that the there is no power project which is fully owned by the Government of Manipur and that electricity being supplied to the people of Manipur is transmitted through the power line connecting Dimapur to Imphal, Sarat said that stringing of double support line of 400 KV has begun for transmission of power from Silchar to Imphal.

For the same purpose, an area of 100 acres has been acquired at Yurembam.

Informing that Manipur would be receiving 42 MW of power from Palatna and 40 MW from Bongaigaon power plants from 2011-12 and another 43 MW from Lower Subansari and 14 MW from Kameng Hydro Electric Project during the 12th Five Year Plan Period, the Chief Engineer claimed that the condition of power supply in Manipur would be improving in the coming years.

However, at present 75 per cent of the total power being received by the State is lost in transmission and distribution.

Saying that pre-paid meter systems would be introduced in Imphal area very soon under the Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programme, he expressed that people would certainly use electricity in judicious and legal manner once this system is introduced.

Out of Rs 280 crores indebted to consumers as power bills, the department has so far succeeded in collecting Rs 10 crores during the ongoing drive.

He further stated that a new resolution would be passed to allow consumers pay overdue bills in instalment basis.

Presenting a paper on the topic "Role of consumers in the participative management and consumers' contribution for the treatment", MU Economics Prof Priyoranjan questioned whether the ongoing drive of Electricity Department would be a lasting one.

He also pointed out that there are certain areas where people have little trust in the Government.

Rakesh Meihoubam of the Human Rights Law Network highlighted the inconveniences being endured by the people due to improper functioning of Electricity Department's consumer grievances cell and consumers' inaccessibility of the department.

Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission's chairman Methanzuala spoke on regulatory commission and its role, H Bihari on few important regulations for supply of electricity, N Shyamsunder on citizens' charter and retired Col Achou on consumers' expectations.

Meanwhile, it is reported that a public hearing on the difficulties being faced by the people of Manipur about power supply would be held at the State Guest House tomorrow at 11 am under the aegis of the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission of Manipur and Mizoram.

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