Power CE admits power loss in system
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 19 2012: Power Department Chief Engineer N Sarat has admitted that there is power loss due to flaws in the department's system in addition to the power lost on account of power theft by unauthorised consumers.

Even though unauthorised connections did aggravate power crisis in the State, flaws in the department's system account for additional power loss, conceded the Chief Engineer during a press meet today.

Informing that the department would launch a renewed drive against unauthorised consumers and tax defaulters from June 22 together with police, Sarat said that the Additional Chief Engineer would be appointed as nodal officer for the proposed drive.

The drive which would be carried out with a special police team including women police would have six teams.

The drive would be carried out under a specific three-layered mechanism.

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In the course of the previous drive, a number of illegal consumers and defaulters were pulled up and cases were registered but no one was booked.

This evoked a question whether the drive was solely for collecting money or earning names of the officers concerned.

There is a need to train the police IOs who would handle these cases.

There is also the need to bring an understanding with Judges or Magistrates to issue judgements as soon as possible, said the Chief Engineer.

This time, the drive would be conducted without leaving any loopholes and criminal cases would be registered against unauthorised consumers.

He also warned that the drive would be more intensive this time.

On being enquired if the department's staff would be penalised for their roles in facilitating power theft, the Chief Engineer demanded a clear written report so that he can take up due action against the erring staff.

Further informing that the State would receive 20 MW of power from Palatana Thermal Power Station starting from August this year, the Chief Engineer said that the total power tax indebted to private consumers has reached Rs 317 crore.