Power cut yes, but not without notification

MALDA, July 29: The Malda merchants’ chamber of commerce has protested against rampant power cut problem in last three weeks in Malda district ‘without notification'. The traders’ body MMCC has planned to take out a protest rally and demonstration in front of electricity distribution office in English Bazaar tomorrow inviting students of schools and colleges and senior citizens of Malda district to participate in the rally. The body has informed about their programme to the authorities including the district magistrate and police superintendent. The district secretary of MMCC, Mr Jayanta Kundu, said: “The electricity distribution company limited may cut power to make up scarcity of power generation. But they will have to inform about the schedule of load shedding”.“We will not tolerate rampant power cut without notification,” Mr Kundu added. Besides, the traders’ body will also protest against the decision to enhance the amount of security of its consumers. It may be noted that the state electricity department has issued notice and asked the old consumers to show the papers of their security deposit. “Consumers are deep trouble to show papers of security deposit at the time when they got electricity connection two or three decades ago”, the traders argued. Mr Amalendu Maity, the circle manager of state electricity distribution company limited in Malda, said: “It is very difficult to inform them of the power cut schedule which is not in our control. Power cut problem is not only in Malda almost every district including Kolkata. Malda may not be exceptional”.He also said that the department had requested the consumers to show papers of security deposit just to update the computerised records of it.The department has also planned to enhance the amount of security deposit which in old rate, Mr Maity added. The MMCC has criticised collection of meter rent every month despite security deposit and demanded uninterrupted power supply in industrial belt. n SNS