news details |
|
|
| SERC acting as extension of PDD, compromises its autonomous character | | | Early Times Report
srinagar, Apr 26: State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) has virtually lost its autonomous character as the body is dancing to the tunes of Power Development Department making it an extension of the department to justify unprecedented power tariff hike in the State.
Instead of acting as a deterrent against the irrational moves of Power Development Department (PDD), J&K SERC has allowed an unprecedented hike of over 150% in the power tariff since its induction in 2007 -08 from average value of Rs. 1.40 per unit in the year 2006-07 (before SERC issued first tariff order for 2007-08) to Rs. 3.65 /unit in 2012-13. Curiously enough, the rate revision has been affected twice just within a period of 5 months by a total price hike of 26%.
Contrary to its purpose of inception in terms of the J&K SERC Act envisaging dispassionate and impartial role on their part as an autonomous body, the commission has acted in tune with the dictates of the State Government. Moreover, the commission has displayed a scant care to one of the vital obligations devolving on it in respect of improvement in the operational efficiency and prevention of T&D losses by the PDD. SERC has in fact acted as a mute spectator to the fact that the T&D losses have increased alarmingly to 69% rather than showing any decline.
Besides, despite acknowledgment on the part of SERC with regard to non compliance of its various directives by the PDD with impunity, the former has failed to take any action against the latter. Instead the SERC has confined its role to lone subject of overburdening the consumers by revising the tariff. The gross negligence on the part of SERC to discharge its duties in terms of the essence of J&K SERC Act as well as J&K Electricity Act speaks volumes about its softness towards the PDD rather than public in general and State exchequer in particular.
The discrepancies in the power management by PDD as disclosed by the Census report of 2011 which shows almost 8.00 lacs illegal electric connections in the State has been grossly ignored by the SERC. Such a state of affairs has ultimately tarnished the credibility of the SERC in the eyes of the people of the State who have been bearing the brunt of inflation and price hike on one hand and on the other hand the unjustified rather anti-poor hike in power tariff.
The unprecedented electricity duty of 22% charged is in fact incompatible with such tax charged elsewhere and with all this Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who is also the Power Minister seems to be in no mood to give respite to the people is insensitive to such an alarming hike in tariff.
The latest hike in electricity tariff in Jammu & Kashmir fraught with dangerous consequences has put a big question mark on the autonomous character of SERC as second such hike since October last year incredibly marks a cumulative 33 per cent increase in six months. On the other hand, this hike tantamount to the governance failure in this State and in governance failure the axe falls on people. SERC's approval to the power tariff hike clearly indicates that the autonomous body which was supposed to protect the interests of the State and the citizens alike has failed in discharging its duties towards the poor consumers, instead it has become an extension of PDD which gets everything ratified by SERC. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
