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Redressing power grievances

After being accused of playing a "less proactive role" in redressing grievances of consumers, the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission has finally relented.

Attempting to change its image, the regulatory authority has agreed to meet ten consumers every month to hear out their problems and take them up with the power distribution companies.

The much-awaited meetings will become a regular feature beginning this month, and will take up issues related to inflated bills, power pilferage and delay in providing connections.

Initially just 10 cases will be taken up every month, but the number is expected to rise.

The regulatory body, which was at the receiving end of criticism for failing to come to the aid of consumers, will also submit the draft of the supply codes and performance standards for the discoms to the Government. Taking cognisance of the mounting consumer complaints, the Delhi Cabinet had recently directed the DERC to prepare a supply codes and performance standard.

At a recent meeting chaired by Delhi Transco's Chairman-cum-Managing Director, residents' welfare associations had also expressed dissatisfaction over the DERC's role. There was consensus among the RWAs that the DERC should be able to interact with the consumers and instil confidence.

A report on "Power Sector: Review After Five Years" also mentioned that the DERC was "perceived as not being people-friendly".

-- Smriti Kak Ramachandran

Road safety hazard

The road that links Noida and Mayur Vihar to Vikas Marg is definitely a convenient one for residents of these areas to reach ITO quickly. But one or the other unwelcome developments on this road keep robbing motorists of a good driving experience.

While some earlier problems have been more or less taken care of, a new one has cropped up recently. A little more than 50 metres from the Vikas Marg intersection towards Akshardham temple, a cut has been "introduced" by breaking the central verge.

It has created two problems. Apart from motorists driving in the first lane of either carriageway running the risk of smashing their vehicles into concrete blocks -- removed from the central verge -- lying strewn, there are also two-wheeler riders who use the "cut" to cross the carriageway. Since the road is quite wide and signal-free, vehicles generally come at high speed making it risky both for those crossing the verge and the motorists.

For that matter, there is another "cut" at the base of the Akshardham flyover towards Ma Villa Apartments that two-wheeler riders use rather freely creating a safety hazard. Partially hidden by trees and near a flyover, this "cut" too has the same problem as two-wheeler riders suddenly emerge on the road out of nowhere.

At the newly developed "cut", the problem has been aggravated further with even four-wheelers trying their luck, risking their lives as well as others'.

Surprisingly the traffic policemen stationed at the intersection almost round-the-clock seem least bothered about the activities going on in this entire stretch.

Prashant Pandey

Problem of

stray dogs

With the civic authorities unable to tackle the problem of stray dogs, seeing many of them lying dead on the roads has become a common sight in the Capital. While most citizens take it stoically, quite a few are perturbed by the sight. Very often while passing by stray dogs roaming around by the roadside, many motorists fear for the safety of these animals.

The other day, traffic on Ring Road near Indraprastha Park suddenly came to a crawl and then a complete halt. What confounded motorists was that they could see a clear road beyond the row of cars which had come to a halt side by side.

Almost all the motorists honked as they felt that the drivers were playing some trick. But then reality dawned on them. While the traffic stood at a standstill, two drivers stepped out of their cars, picked up two small cuddly pups -- who appeared very scared -- right from the middle of the road and walked gingerly with them up to the sidewalk. As everyone watched without batting an eyelid, the two good Samaritans placed the pups gently on the lawn behind the peripheral wall of the park so that they did not meander back to the crowded road. The effort earned the two drivers a lot of respect in the eyes of everyone around.

-- Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

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