Society seeks clarification
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 21 2008:
Referring to the reported statement of Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing that 10 percent of the electricity bills collected by NGOs were given to them as commission, the Commonwealth Development Society (CWDS) has sought a definite clarification from the Government on the matter.
CWDS is one of the non government organisations collecting electricity bills for the Electricity Department.
Admitting that it took 5 percent of the electricity bills it collected from electric consumers, the CWDS has questioned the Power Minister's statement of 10 percent commission.
Speaking to reporters today, CWDS secretary in-charge RK Ranjan observed that the Minister's statement has aroused strong suspicion whether there is a Government policy to give 10 percent commission or whether the Electricity Department is deceiving the NGOs by giving them only 5 percent of the bills collected as against the Government policy of 10 percent commission.
According to a Government order issued in June this year, it was laid out that NGOs will be given 5 percent of the electricity bills they collected, Ranjan said.
In accordance to the same order, CWDS has been collecting electricity bills from most areas under Uripok Assembly constituency, Khoyathong and Lalambung.
On the average, the CWDS can collect Rs 3 o 4 lakhs per month.
For this, the society got 5 percent commission, he informed.
He further appealed to the Government to clarify on the existing confusion about the percentage of commission entitled to NGOs for collection of electricity bills.
Even as Rs 9 crores should accrue to the Electricity Department as electricity bills per month, the Department is able to collect only Rs 2 crores per month, informed a
source.