Date:03/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/03/stories/2007060307980500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Apartments may get power connections, finally

Santosh Patnaik

Outgoing CMD of EPDCL Praveen Prakash

VISAKHAPATNAM: Pointing out that consumer satisfaction is his major achievement, Praveen Prakash, outgoing Chairman and Managing Director of EPDCL, says that he is happy with the initiatives to make the company a role model.

The IAS officer who completed a year at the helm of EPDCL, is scheduled to take over as District Collector of Ranga Reddy on Monday. On his controversial decision to withhold permission to apartments and commercial complexes, he said it was done as per the rulebook. Only after issuance of occupancy certificate (OC) by GVMC, permission by utility service like power should be given.

Meanwhile, several flat owners belonging to middle class people have complained that because of insistence of OC, they were forced to pay loan instalments to the banks with interest without occupying their flats. Permission for over 60 apartment and commercial buildings is pending.

Mr. Praveen Prakash said the GVMC was in the process of hammering out a solution and insisted that builders should meet the specifications in the plan to get OC from the urban civic body.

Customer satisfaction

He said to raise consumer satisfaction, they have opened a call centre and introduced follow-up on SMS on complaints and receipt of complaints online. Acknowledgement is given to complaints received at computerised offices at 288 sections headed by Assistant Engineers.

Breakdown and power shutdown information would also be informed on mobile phones for which agreement has been signed with two companies. Mobile numbers of 1.7 lakh consumers has already been collected.

Stating that the stage was set for introduction of automatic metering system, he said initially it would be extended to 350 high value industries in and around Vizag. Under the project, the meters would be connected to the servers by fixing a sim to take the reading on a particular date.

First in world

A rare achievement of Visakhapatnam would be to become the first district in the world to have 100 per cent use of compact fluroscent lamps by 3.7 lakh domestic consumers. EPDCL has signed an agreement with Osram of Germany for supply of 7.5 lakh CFL bulbs - each costing Rs.100 to Rs.110.

Mr. Praveen Prakash disclosed that under a pilot project, the bulbs would be distributed free of cost to all as part of Osram's commitment to reduce green house effect. By February 2008, Visakhapatnam could get 100 per cent coverage and later it would be extended to other areas by EPDCL.