'Tax evasion, illegal connections holding back 24X7 power supply'
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 20 2015 :
The Manipur State Power Distribution Company Ltd is gearing up to purchase power worth Rs 300 crore from outside sources during the 2015-16 financial year.
However, the company has not set any tentative figure on the expected revenue generation during the same period.
An official of the MSPDCL told this reporter that the calculation is based on continuation of the present allocation of 14 hours of power per day and the available volume will be insufficient in sustaining 24X7 supply of power.
However, he added that successful eradication of illegal power connections, which had been pegged at 1.9 lakh households, and subsequent full tariff collection will present enough resources to the company for providing 24X7 power supply to its customers.
Since the company took over the role of supplying power in the state from the state electricity department, the monthly expenditure incurred in purchasing power has jumped up to Rs 24 crore.
Earlier, the monthly purchase by the electricity department used to be Rs 9-10 crore only, he stated.
He informed that only half of the total 4.6 households in the state receive power through authorized connections.
Owing to the high percentage of illegal connections and high rates of tax evasion, the demands for power have increased, he added.
These have acted as shackles in the quest for non-stop supply of power, he contended.
Despite all odds, the company is striving hard to provide power for at least 14 hours per day to its domestic customers, he added.
He stated that a consumer care centre which will be functioning round the clock will be opened at Lamphel next month.
Maintaining that the centre will fasten the process of redressing customers' grievances, he stated that the staff at the centre will directly forward complaints from the customers to the respective sub-stations promptly to facilitate better service.
He also informed that the process for enabling online bill payment for post paid customers is underway.