More trouble for power consumers
Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, May 16: The electricity department is already struggling to supply sufficient amount of power to islanders and now it seems that the department is also struggling hard to provide new electric meters to power consumers.
Islanders allege that most of the site offices have stopping issuing new electric meters to public as they say that they have already exhausted their stock, long back. People who are waiting for new connection are getting restless for this unnecessary delay. “As I am not getting a new electric meter, I am unable to shift in my newly constructed house,” an angry resident of South Andaman told Andaman Sheekha today.
When contacted the Executive Engineer (HQ) Er R. P. Singh said that the fault is not with the electricity department as orders for electric meters, have already been placed long back.
“We have ordered 8000 electric meters to Mass Power tech,New Delhion31st Jan 2012, and the second order for 6500 electric meters was given to Ventex control on23rd Feb 2012. We are yet to receive the consignments,” Er. Singh added.
However, later talking to Andaman Sheekha, another senior officer of Electricity Department said that the receiving date of the electric meter from the suppliers is30th July 2012.
“Now the consignments are under shipment. As we receive the requirements of the stocks from the headquarter we starts the process. If the requirements are received on time there will be no shortage in stocks,” the senior officer told who does not want his name to be quoted.
Clearly miscalculation and delay from the side the Electricity Department to place order for new electric meters have resulted in acute shortage of new electric meters in South Andaman area. The question is when the department knew that theseIslandswould require atleast 14,500 new electric meters over next few years, why the orders were not placed well in advance. It seems that the rudderless and powerless department has now also gone meter less.
