Date:19/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/19/stories/2007101953320400.htm

New Delhi

‘Speed up I-cards for discom staff’

Staff Reporter

To help check suspicious persons harassing the electricity consumers

NEW DELHI: Delhi Power Minister A. K. Walia on Thursday asked the Chief Executive Officers of all the three power distribution companies in the Capital to issue laminated identity cards to employees who are supposed to visit the premises of electricity consumers as part of their duty.

Stating that various employees visit domestic, commercial and industrial power consumers for such work as meter reading, rectification of fault and inspection, the Minister pulled up the three discoms over delay in issue of laminated identity cards – bearing complete details -- to such employees despite directions issued by him to that effect a month ago.

Dr. Walia asked the discoms to speed up the issue of laminated photo identity cards and to instruct their employees to display them properly while going out on field visits. He said the practice would help in overcoming entry of suspicious persons into the premises of electricity consumers and put an end to ongoing corruption.

Stating that a “middleman culture” was prevailing in the power sector, the Minister said the identity cards that were being used by the discom employees at present had been issued by certain agencies and merely mention that the person is on duty of a discom. But, he said, these cards are not laminated and cannot be properly displayed.

He has directed the CEOs of all the three discoms to issue identity cards on a priority basis so that it could be completed within a month.