Activists flay power utility chiefs remark

The Sajag Grahak Manch has criticised the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd...

The Sajag Grahak Manch has criticised the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) managing director Ajay Mehtas statement requesting the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) to appoint expert consumer representatives.

Vivek Velankar,president of Sajag Grahak Manch,has condemned Mehtas statement that criticised consumer organisations expertise in the energy field.

Velankar said in a statement that consumer organisations have pointed out various discrepancies in the MSEDCL functioning. The organisations have made use of the Right to Information Act and found that Accucheck meters,used by MSEDCL officers to check consumer meter accuracy,are being used for months together,even post expiry.

The power utility in a statement has said that MSEDCL,during the hearing conducted by MERC on August 16,has not criticised any consumer organisation in particular.

During the hearing,MSEDCL pointed out that the authorisation should come through a transparent process specifying qualifying requirements,tenure of such appointments and should not be on an ad-hod basis.

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