Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 17 2008:
STATE POWER Minister, Phungzathang Tonsing has said that total dues of amounting to more than Rs.50 crores for power consumption are pending with various government departments while speaking as chief guest at the inaugural function of the workshop on general awareness on Energy Conservation Act 2001 and the role of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and State Designated Agency.
The workshop was organised by the state electricity department.
Phungzathang said that out of the targeted collection of power consumption charge of Rs.70 crores from the general consumers, only Rs.45 crores could be collected by the department so far.
Despite these huge overdues, the electricity department was continuing to supply all the departments and people of Manipur, even though he acknowledged the inconveniences of the people caused by the present roster system of load sheddings due to power shortage, he said.
Government and people were blaming each other on the power problems.
Government says, power problem is caused by the non-payment of power consumption bills while the people are blaming that they are not clearing the due bills due to the irregular power supply, he observed.
In the meantime, he also said that under the targeted plan of the Central government to cover each and every village in the country by the power supply, in Manipur too the step is advancing well.
In the state too under the Central sponsored schemes, the department is efforting to make power supply to every nook and corner of each districts of the state even though the implementation process slow owing to the prevailing law and order situation, the power minister added.
State education minister L Jayentakumar who also attended the function as guest of honour talked on the need of energy in bringing forward the society.
So the mass should know the important of energy.
Commissioner of power, LP Golmei who presided over the inaugural function said that still the habit of stealing of power and consuming it freely is existing among the people but the state government is spending Rs.20 crores per month in buying electricity.
In this prevailing situation, people need to aware of the proper utilization of power.
During the function a booklet on energy conservation and calendar were released by the chief guest.