Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 29
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said that there is urgent need to revisit the communitisation of electricity management in Nagaland.
“Due to faster urbanisation, there is not much difference in lifestyle and usage of energy intensive appliances between urban and rural areas. If the present trend of increased power demand/consumption continues, the communitised villages will be one of the major contributors for huge accumulated losses to the state in terms of revenue,” remarked Rio.
This was during discussion on ‘Power Sector Reforms by Reviewing Communitisation of Electricity Management in Urban and Rural Areas under the Nagaland Communitisation of Public Institution & Services Act 2002 (Act No. 2 of 2002)- Sensitization and Awareness thereof,’ raised by Power Minister KG Kenye and supported by MLAs Nuklutoshi, and Er. Picto Shohe at the 5th session of 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) here.
Stating that the Power Department is incurring annual revenue loss of about Rs 300 crores, he said the reasons attributed by the department are shortage of manpower, meter readers and O&M staff, as lack of meter reading leads to under billing, power theft/pilferage among others.
He said that reform measures are needed in supplying quality and uninterrupted power supply to the domestic and industrial consumers. Stating that Power Sector is one of the major defaulting departments in revenue generation, he said “It contributes to the growth of the State’s economy and functions as a commercial organisation/department of the State for delivering electricity as an essential public service.”
Installation of prepaid meter now mandatory
Rio said that the desired progress could not be made in the installation of smart meters in Dimapur, the commercial hub, due to resistance from various Public NGOs, GBs union and Chairmen of wards/colonies.
The Chief Minister said that the installation of prepaid meter is now mandatory as per a Central Government notification. “The biggest challenge now arises for 100% smart metering coverage across the state under the RDSS scheme,” he said.
Although the State Cabinet has approved the RDSS Action Plan in totality, implementing of smart metering is becoming a challenge to the department due to resistance by the GBs and ward Chairmen, he said.
Smart prepaid metering being conditional for release of funds for infrastructure under the RDSS, hence installation of smart prepaid meters is imperative to avail the much-needed central government funds for development of State’s Power Sector, he informed.
“Opposing or resisting a Govt program/scheme by ward authorities is inappropriate, particularly from the GBs,” the CM said
‘Power sector main backbones of state’s economy’
Power Minister KG Kenye said that power sector is one of the main backbones of the state’s economy and functions as a commercial organisation/department of the state for delivering electricity as an essential public service.
He said that as matter of public importance, the proposed reform measures are tabled before the House for sensitization and awareness of the members of the house and the public at large of the proposed changes/amendments in the communitisation of electricity management model rules and review the roles of GBs, Ward/Colony councils to usher in growth in the state.
He said that prior to the smart meters, under the IPDS Scheme (2017-18), the Department installed and commissioned 19,000 stand-alone prepaid meters – 10,000 in Dimapur town and 9000 in Kohima under very difficult circumstances and challenges.
He said that the biggest challenge now arises for 100% smart metering coverage across the state under the RDSS scheme.
Kenye suggested that the government direct the district administrations to enforce the regulation of the GOI as mandated under the Electricity Act 2003 and its amendments thereof, for the implementation of 100% prepaid/smart metering.
Stating that civil society bodies have no locus standi to oppose the implementation of government programs which are meant to improve delivery of public services, he said the “government may therefore direct such civil bodies/societies to withdraw all such unjustified objections, otherwise, punitive actions could be imposed on them.”
