TEAM HERALD
PORVORIM: The Electricity department’s failure to depute a meter reader to the Porvorim power sub-station (PPSS) has led to shocking consequences, as nearly 3,000 consumers from Porvorim have not received their electricity bills since the past six months.
Speaking to Herald, a consumer from Journalist Colony highlighted the difficulties they have encountered due to the delayed electricity bills.
“It is difficult for us to pay a huge amount when we receive bills after six months and if the bill is not paid on time, there is always the fear that the Electricity department could disconnect the power supply. This is ridiculous. Why should people be made to suffer because of the inefficiency of the Electricity department,” asked the consumer.
According to an official at the PPSS, the meter reader catering to these 3,000 consumers was transferred many months ago and no replacement has been sent to the sub-station.
The PPSS, which caters to about 26,000 consumers, has been hit by an acute shortage of staff.
“As against the requirement of 12 meter readers, there are only 8 meter readers deputed at the PPSS. Of these eight, one meter reader has suffered a paralytic stroke and is unable to perform any duty. He reports at the office and sits there the entire day. Moreover, the PPSS is required to depute the clerical staff for census duty and this increases the workload of the existing staff,” the official said.
“The PPSS requires at least 17 lower division clerks to attend to billing work. However, there are only 7 clerks in the office to attend to this work. Besides, the vacant posts of Head Clerk and Upper Division Clerk are yet to be filled up at the sub-station.”
“Unless the vacancies are filled up, it is not possible for the PPSS to issue bills to the consumers on bi-monthly basis. We have written several letters to our higher authorities requesting them to depute more staff to the PPSS, but there has been no response so far,” the official added.
When contacted, Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte said he was aware of the situation. “I have already brought this matter to the notice of the power minister,” said Khaunte.
