The Hindu : New Delhi News : Consumer Watch Forum planned

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 03, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Consumer Watch Forum planned

Sujay Mehdudia

To `keep a watch' on private distribution companies

NEW DELHI: All is not lost for the Capital's power consumers who face harassment at the hands of the power distribution companies and an indifferent Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) with regard to their grievances. A process has been set in motion to set up a Consumer Watch Forum to keep a tab on the working of the power distribution companies and sort out the problems faced by consumers.

The initiative to put in place such a mechanism has come from the Power Department of the Delhi Government that is now studying the whole issue in close coordination with some rights groups and business chambers. "It will not be a Government-run forum and will function independently. We will provide it grant-in-aid and not interference in its working. Negotiations are being held with financial experts, professionals and other related to the power sector for putting in place such a forum," Principal Secretary (Power) Rakesh Mehta informed.

Mr. Mehta said with the Right to Information Act being used as a tool to empower the citizens of the country, it was important that such a forum was put in place. Only recently the Union Government has issued a notification to cover the private distribution companies under the RTI Act, something that was being resisted for quite some time by the Delhi Government.

Mr. Mehta said the proposed forum would have technical capability to take up issues with DERC on behalf of consumers, a majority of who have little or no interaction with it. Not only consumers, but residents' welfare associations have also accused the DERC of siding with the discoms and not attending to the problems faced by consumers like quality of services being provided, inflated bills, fast running meters and unscheduled load shedding. It is proposed to enrol the services of financial professionals to not only monitor the working of these distribution companies but also scrutinise the financial aspects of their dealings including purchase of equipment and other investments. "The grant-in-aid would help set in motion a consumer movement. There is nothing wrong with Government giving grant as we are already giving financial assistance to various non-government organisations under various programmes," he added.

Asserting that efforts were being made to ensure that the coming summer season passes off without any major problems, Mr. Mehta said the Government had already tied up with various States for additional power. He said an agreement has been reached with Himachal Pradesh for supply of 200 MW of power and another 200 MW will flow from Orissa.

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