Team Herald
PANJIM: Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar on Wednesday said the State government plans to introduce smart power meters with prepaid facility.
Addressing the media, Madkaikar said, “There is a central government instruction that the State should go in for smart power meters along with prepaid facility. With this facility consumers can simply recharge with the desired amount and they will get an advantage as they will see what their consumption is.”
He added, “These meters will have an optional period wherein the consumer will be given a time limit to recharge for which the consumers will be notified. Also there will be direct disconnection of connection if the meter is not recharged.”
He further said that the government has appointed four different companies for supply and installation and replacement of power meters of which work order for 1,63,163 single phase and 60,575 three phase power meters has already been issued and supply will begin from April.
“The installation of the meters will increase revenue collection and also meters shall be available for releasing new connections. There will be no additional charges for these meters other than normal replacement and meter charges,” Madkaikar said.
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Consultant appointed to check LED installation
Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar said that the Electricity Department has appointed a third party to carry out physical inspection of LED lights installed across the State. “Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a company under the Ministry of Power was asked to install LED streetlights across the State. However, they sublet the contract to another company which claims to have completed their work, however, the government does not agree with this claim and that is the reason we have appointed a third party consultant to check,” the minister said. The department has also claimed that there are a number of places where LED fixtures have not yet been installed. The third party report is expected to come within the next 30 days.
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Madkaikar indirectly attacks predecessor Naik
PANJIM: Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar on Wednesday indirectly attacked his predecessor Milind Naik accusing him of surplus and unwarranted recruitments in the department while ignoring actual requirements. Addressing the media, Madkaikar said, “I don’t want to charge anybody but today I want to say that the Power Department was completely neglected. Data entry operators and LDCs were recruited in the department without any need. Junior engineers and linemen which the department required during that phase were completely sidelined.” Highlighting the achievements of the past year, Madkaikar said that the SLDC (State Load Dispatch Centre) has been made fully operational, so too the call centre, contract service cell, enforcement cell, and financial powers given to Executive Engineers, Street Light Policy formulated, and death compensation for line staff on duty increased.
