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PANJIM: To curb all problems associated with electricity billing in the State, especially extreme delays in issuing bills, the government Tuesday assured that meter reading will be outsourced within the next two-to-three months which will initially cover two lakh households.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was responding to media questions Tuesday that consumers were finding it difficult to pay the accumulated bills at one time.
“Within two to three months, under the new system, two lakh households will start getting spot bills initially. All consumers will be subsequently covered soon,” he said.
Clarifying the problem which was inconveniencing consumers in Goa, Parrikar said the government is setting things right in the electricity department, which has been reeling under several problems which were created during the past regime.
“The department is facing many issues. Women meter readers were recruited (by the past Congress government) who instead of going house-to-house for meter reading would sit in the office… We are putting everything in place and it will take time,” he said.
The chief minister also said the previous Chief Electrical Engineer Nirmal Braganza was on extension for nine years before another engineer replaced him. He said the new officer will take time to understand the overall functioning. The government, he stated further, is also working to overcome the staff shortage and streamline the process of issuing bills.
Parrikar had assured the Assembly during the 2013-14 Budget session that government will solve the problem by outsourcing meter reading and billing to a private party.
Several legislators including ruling MLAs had demanded corrective measures following complaints from their respective constituencies that consumers were getting inflated bills after over four months and more.
Notepads by Aug 15
The chief minister Manohar Parrikar Tuesday told school children on the sidelines of the Revolution Day function that notepads promised to them, would be given by August 15.
