Statesman News Service
MALDA, April 8: The state electricity distribution company department is facing difficulties in providing new connections to consumers due to a lack of electronic meters. The company has started collecting electricity bills online through Tathya Mitra centres across the Malda district.
After submitting an application a consumer will frequently have to wait for two to three months for a new permanent connection due to an acute shortage of meters in the district. Hundreds of applications are pending in urban and rural towns.
To ease the situation, departmental officials in various sectors have formulated the idea of providing a temporary connection to new applicants, asking them to wait for three months after submitting applications in the prescribed format.
“We have faced a crisis over the supply of new meters over the last few weeks, but now we are getting a few more meters. We hope that the problem will be solved soon,” said Mr DK Mondal, the divisional manager of the state electricity distribution company limited in Malda.
Senior authorities are to draw up a fresh contract with the new company, who will supply meters to the department. As a result, the supply of meters from the earlier company has been stopped.
“A tendering process is in progress inviting new companies to supply us with meters. The present problem will be resolved soon,” Mr Mondal said.
According to Mr Mondal, more than 150 Tathya Mitra (TM) centres are working here to collect electricity bills. People are reportedly happy with them because they have regularly paid extra travelling expenses to customers willing to come to sector offices to deposit their electricity bill.
“We have been receiving online payment for electricity bills through recognized TM centres. If any TM member does not deposit their payment within the stipulated time we will deduct the due amount from his security deposit,” Mr Mondal said.
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