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| PDD give-up to TSPs | | | CHAMAN KAUL
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Feb 5: Changing its stance, higher authorities in (Power Development Department) PDD has finally succumbed to Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) in Jammu and Kashmir by virtue of reversing its all existing orders for unknown reasons. By such acts neither reputation of state but also the exchequer is ruined. Power Development Department (PDD) instead of executing its order no DC/PD/TO-I/571 dated 29-06-2010, wherein orders were issued for imposition of penalties on sharing of sites, HT metering and blanket sanctions had become time barred are to be cancelled with immediate effect, besides DG metering was mandatory according to J&K Electricity Duty Act 1963. PDD has reversed the existing its orders for the reasons well known to them.
In response to the chief minister's letter regarding allegation of violation of Electricity Act by Telecom Operators, Power Development Commissioner, vide DC/PD/TO-II/156a/1561 dated 28-01-2011 has mentioned that several hurdles faced by operators unable them to fulfil the prescribed norms set by Electricity Act. Replying to Chief Minister's letter vide CMS/ Gen/21/ 2010 dated 21 January 2011,Power Development Commissioner has put forth demands of TSPs and mentioned that in HT metering TSPs failed to execute the same at few places due to law and order problems. But fact of the matter is that from 2008 December onwards orders were issued by then Commissioner Secretary Power for executing HT metering at TSP sites. Instead of doing so TSPs started moving from pillar to post to evade the process. Finally they approached Electricity Commission wherein Power Development Commissioner Office submitted that arrears worth several crores lying pending with TSPs and the conditions of HT infrastructure were in shambled state.
Keeping in view the above facts Electricity Commission directed both TSPs and PDD to remove dispensaries within HT infrastructure and recover the pending arrears at the earliest. Jammu and Kashmir State Electricity Regulatory Commission vide order no JKSERC/15 and JKSERC/ 85/390-91 dated 29-12-2009 ordered that existing BTS sites meteredon LTshall be metered with HT metering units by June 30, 2010.Only 25% metering was done in Jammu till 30 June whereas in Valley turmoil started from June 15 onwards and only 10% metering was done. Similarly, in case of quality of electric works DCP mentions that operators agreed that quality of work does not match as advised by in guidelines vide communication DC/PD/TO-II/42/3073-76 dated 01-01-2011 and accepted to follow the same in letter and spirit. One fails to understand that what were the officers doing for the past five years and why are they in a mood to defend TSPs. Sources in the department informed that for merely monetary benefits and jobs to their kin in various telecom companies at top positions is reason behind that these officers have benefited to TSPs at the cost of huge exchequer loss of the state.
Power Development Department vide order no DC/PD/TO-I/571 date 29-06-2010 and CEJ/TS/I/BTS/1912-26 dated 29-06-2010 imposed penalties on sharing of infrastructure at BTS sites from past some years but as per new DCP orders vide no DC/PD/TO-II/156a/1561 dated 28-01-2011 stated that BTS shared sites are not involved in resale of power. As per IP sharing license with telecom companies it is mandatory to provide infrastructure, space and power to other operators at BTS sites. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and IP sharing licence guide lines clearly indicates that revenue collection, infrastructure, power and space charges should be collected from other TSPs. Despite knowing all the facts that the state Electricity Commission and government has not approved IP sharing licence or MoU of telecom companies the orders were reversed in a dramatic situation resulting in huge loss of state exchequer.
Informed sources said that on the account of ED generation, PDD failed to recover charges applicable there upon from the last nine years but DCP in his reply to CM has mentioned waving off the charges. One fails to understand who should be held responsible for huge loss of state exchequer in the exercise. In addition to all these facts several sites are running on power without having completed formalities including NOC by pollution control board, municipality, district administration and without blanket sanction. |
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