The Hindu : Focus on customer satisfaction: Prabhu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 22, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Focus on customer satisfaction: Prabhu

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI April 21. The reform-linked power distribution upgradation programme, initiated by the Centre and launched yesterday in three circles in the State, is primarily aimed at achieving "customer satisfaction", besides improving the viability of electricity boards and making the sector attractive to investors.

This is the message the Union Minister for Power, Suresh Prabhu, and the Joint Secretary in his Ministry, Arvind Jadav, sought to convey at the inauguration of the Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (APDRP) for the Coimbatore (south), Pudukkottai and Villupuram circles. These are among the 63 circles in various States, which have entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Union Government to usher in the required reforms.

Under the programme, 50 per cent assistance is available from the Centre for erection of new substations, strengthening existing distribution systems and equipment and provision of high-quality meters. The proposed outlay for the three circles in Tamil Nadu is Rs. 233 crores.

Mr. Prabhu said the distribution sector reforms, as part of restructuring, constituted genuine reforms in contrast to the emphasis on new generation capacity with foreign/private investment. It would lead to availability of assured and quality power to consumers, correct billing, prompt and efficient detection of outages and attendance to complaints of consumers, besides plugging power thefts.

With better cash flows as a result of plugging of outages, the SEBs would be in a position to improve their finances and also customer service. The beneficial results of the programme were in evidence in a few circles such as Faridabad.

Declaring that the working of the APDRP in Coimbatore, Tirupur and Villupuram would be monitored at the Central level from the 90th day for projected results and at other centres in the circles at the State level, Mr. Prabhu said the Centre would award prizes of "not less than Rs. 5 crores" to the best circles covered by the programme.

Mr. Prabhu and Mr. Jadav said that the telecommunication sector was a clear example of the use of technology to improve access, efficiency and customer service.

A programme focussing on the use of information technology (IT) in the power sector would be held in New Delhi on April 23. The private sector would be afforded scope to participate in the APDRP, as had already happened at Bhandup, in Maharashtra, and in Karnataka.

Mr. Prabhu said the APDP (as distinct from APDRP which implies a link of Central funding with reform and was conceived later) had been endorsed by Chief Ministers in March 2001.

He added that he would meet the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, on Monday to impress upon her the need for "total political will" to make a success of the programme.

The State Power Minister, Nainar Nagenthran, said proposals involving an outlay of Rs. 49 crores under the APDRP for the Tirunelveli, Madurai and Erode circles had been sent to the Centre for sanction for 2002-03.

The three circles in which the programme was being launched were identified as being representative of industrially-developed areas (Coimbatore south), agricultural areas (Villupuram) and dry and backward areas (Pudukkottai).

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