Early Times Report
JAMMU, Nov 29: The Power Development Department (PDD) of the state apparently has bias towards the residents of Jammu. The department has issued about 3000 connections to the moving secretariat employees, with a flat rate of Rs. 250 per month.
On the one hand, the officials of the PDD forcing meter readers to fill more than 300 units per KW per consumer without checking the actual reading on meters, and on the other hand the moving employees of Civil Secretariat, who are here in Jammu for next six months are entitled to consume unlimited electricity at Rs.250 per month. However the officials have accepted that 300 units per KW are nominal for a consumer using ACs during summers.
"No meter has been installed at the quarters of the secretariat employees, only Rs.250 is being charged from them, and there is no limit on consumption on electricity," informed PDD employee, requesting anonymity. "The department is putting burden on Jammu only, they not even conduct any checking of power theft in Srinagar, if they actually want to stop the power theft in the state, they should start checking from the Ministers, bureaucrats and other officials," he alleged. 300 units of power cost a domestic consumer Rs. 900, but the secretariat employees are enjoying unlimited power at Rs. 250 per month.
The officials of the PDD informed that there are around 3000 Government quarters, which are being used by the moving secretariat employees and they are charging Rs. 250 per month to one-room set, Rs. 400 per month to Two-Room set and for Three-Room set they charge Rs. 700 per month. Sources in the department informed that these employees are consuming the electricity worth thousands of rupees.
Gurbachan Singh, Superintending Engineer, PDD said, "It is true that we charge nominal rates to moving secretariat employees, but if someone exceeds the limit, we charge that units to his department."
On the issue of forcing meter Readers to fill more units SE said, "We have not asked them to go beyond the actual meter reading, but as per the calculation of our engineers, there should be at least 300 units per KW in one connection using ACs, and if the reading is less than 300 unit, that means there some hooking or By-pass has been done." "We have instructed the meter readers to check the connection, who have less meter readings," he added. |
