The Hindu : Money first, service later

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 19, 2003

Other States

Other States - New Delhi

Money first, service later

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI FEB. 19. The private discoms, which took over the reins of the power distribution system in the Capital last year, seem to be more interested in revenue generation. Professionalism -- which was promised by them and the Delhi Government at the time of takeover -- has taken a severe drubbing and so has the issue of public safety.

Proposals submitted by Tata Power and BSES to the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) with regard to charges for new connections, schedule of miscellaneous charges, complaint handling procedure and application forms for new connections are a strong reflection of the attitude and approach of these discoms.

When it comes to responding to the complaints of a consumer, be it that relating to a streetlight, a transformer or a burnt-out meter, there does not seem to be much difference between the erstwhile Delhi Vidyut Board and these discoms. And when it comes to imposing development charges on people living in unauthorised colonies, BSES in particular proposes an exorbitant rate -- Rs. 37,500 for a 5-kw connection. Tata Power on the other hand wants the Delhi Government either to provide grant for electrification of these colonies or loan at zero per cent interest. Till that time it proposes to charge Rs. 4,000 up to 10-kw of load for the residents in these colonies.

Curiously enough in their proposals, both companies are silent on the issue of public safety like the process and time taken by the discoms to handle complaints relating to open gates of a sub-station, naked high tension wires near a municipal school and such like. Even in the case of the streetlights which should have been the top priority for the discoms, they have proposed rectifying the fault in rural areas within three to four days. Even on major roads in the heart of the Capital, the discoms say they will take 24 to 48 hours to restore power supply.

In case of complaints related to breakdowns, the discoms want eight to 12 hours to restore the link and 24 hours in the rural areas. If power failure is due to disturbances in transformers, they want 12 to 24 hours to restore supply.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

Stories in this Section

A project for safe school buses

Unfair trade seen in cell-phone offers

Sleeker, efficient DTC making profits

Money first, service later

DERC chief contradicts Ministers' remarks

BJP unleashing sleaze campaign: Cong.