The Delhi government on Friday took the BSES to task for its alleged failure in ensuring proper power supply in the city. It was told to strengthen the consumer redressal mechanism and restore the faith of the consumers in the distcom.
Ironically, the Delhi Cabinet was absent in the meeting, except Power Minister Haroon Yusuf. All the Cabinet ministers of the Sheila Dikshit government had collectively blamed BSES on several counts and summoned the company head Anil Ambani last month. However, it was Reliance Energy Chairman Satish Seth, flanked by the Delhi heads of the BSES who joined the meeting.
The government was represented by Dikshit, Yusuf, Principal Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Power) and other officials. The Power Minister told Seth in plain words – “consumer harassment would not be tolerated”.
Yusuf later told Hindustan Times: “We have asked them to be more transparent, listen to the grievances and solving of the problem at the lower level instead of the headquarters”.
The government also punctured the BSES balloon of power cuts in “theft prone” areas. It asked the distcom to identify the feeders from where theft is rampant instead of punishing those consumers who pay their bills regularly. “It is wrong to enforce blackouts on those consumers who pay their bills regularly in the garb of cutting supply in theft prone areas,” the minister said.
{{/usCountry}}The government also punctured the BSES balloon of power cuts in “theft prone” areas. It asked the distcom to identify the feeders from where theft is rampant instead of punishing those consumers who pay their bills regularly. “It is wrong to enforce blackouts on those consumers who pay their bills regularly in the garb of cutting supply in theft prone areas,” the minister said.
{{/usCountry}}The government also directed the BSES to rein in their unscrupulous employees who promise to alter the meter for a consideration but then the unsuspecting consumer is raised by the vigilance. “Such practices should come to a halt,” the distcom was told in plain words.
On changing the meters, BSES was asked to give sufficient time to the consumers and advance notice. In case, only women are present in the house, the distcom was asked to postpone it by a day or two.
A BSES spokesman described it as a “review meeting”. “We will work together for the interests of the consumers,” the spokesman added.