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PSPCL seeks admn help to shift power metres out of consumers’ premises
BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) members said that they are not promoting power theft and opposing shifting of metres but, as per rule, the display of metre reading should be inside the premises of consumers.
The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) is going to start a drive in the district to shift electricity metres outside the premises of the consumers. The officials of the PSPCL are holding meetings with the district administration and seeking the support of the police in their drive.
The corporation has shifted power metres outside the premises of consumers in several cities, towns and villages, but still there are many villages such as Lehragaga, Sunam, Cheema and Dirba where it failed to shift them due to opposition of farmer unions.
Power officials said that they had written to the SSP for police support in April and, on Tuesday, they held a meeting with deputy commissioner Amar Partap Singh Virk to initiate the drive. They told the deputy commissioner that Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) leaders do not allow PSPCL officials to shift meters outside the premises.
Superintending engineer, PSPCL Sangrur, Devender Pal Grewal, said, “Even though we are regularly conducting raids to stop power theft, it is very important to shift electricity metres out of consumers’ premises . When our teams go to villages, activists of farmer unions oppose them and do not allow them to shift meters.”
Amid the protest of farmer and labourer unions, the shifting of electricity metres is a big challenge before the PSPCL and sometimes the situation turns ugly.
“We have informed the administration and the police about our drive. As they will provide us security, we will initiate our drive,” said Grewal.
However, members of the BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) said that they are not promoting power theft and opposing shifting of metres but, as per rule, the display of metre reading should be inside the premises of consumers.
“We will oppose their act and would not allow the PSPCL to shift metres as the decision is wrong. They should provide transparency and display of metre reading to consumers inside theri premises,” said, Dilbag Singh, district vice-president, BKU (Ugrahan).
“The PSPCL gives contract to private firms and the contractors install 20 metres in a box. As per the rule, they should install one metre in a single box. These rules should be strictly implemented,” Dilbag added.
