Energy Minister positive on 24X7 power demand by DK
Mangalore Today News Network
Mangaluru, May 20, 2016: Speaking after inaugurating the corporate office of MESCOM, Mangalore Electricity Supply Company; On May 19, Thursday, Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the demand from undivided Dakshina Kannada to provide uninterrupted power supply round-the-clock would be considered positively and a decision would be announced soon, after a technical evaluation.
Minister Shivakumar was responding to the demand made by J.R. Lobo, MLA for Mangaluru South, in this connection. Addressing the gathering earlier, MLA Lobo had said that both Udupi and Dakshina Kannada are responsible for the success of UPCL, Udupi Power Supply Company.
If the demand from Udupi district for 24x7 power supply is to be positively considered, the same should be extended to Dakshina Kannada too, MLA Lobo said. Minister Shivakumar responded the department was positive towards the demand since MESCOM has a customer-base which is sincere to the core in paying the bills.
Speaking about the solar policy introduced by him, Minister Shivakumar said he had not considered offering solar parks for coastal and Malnad districts because of the monsoon. However, he said his department would sanction at least 100 solar-powered irrigation pumpsets to Dakshina Kannada in a week. If more pump sets are required, the department would sanction them too, he said and urged the administration to identify the beneficiaries.
The Minister said about 70 taluks have been identified to set up solar power parks at local levels to produce about 20 MW power, which should start functioning in about 18 months. This is apart from the 5,000 MW mega solar power park being established in Pavagada taluk of Tumkur district, he said. Mr. Lobo also urged Mr. Shivakumar to expedite the underground power supply cable project for Mangaluru city and speed up setting up of sub-stations in Mangaluru. District in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai, Ivan D’Souza, MLC, KPTCL Chairman Javed Akhtar, MESCOM Managing Director Chikkananjappa and others were present on the occasion.
MESCOM to strengthen infrastructure : MESCOM, Mangalore Electricity Supply Company, catering to the electricity requirement of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts is busy strengthening the power supply infrastructure and enhancing its manpower.
Speaking to media MESCOM Managing Director Chikkananjappa said the company has recently started six new sub-divisions. The sub-divisions are meant to respond immediately to the grievances of the Mescom consumers and have come up at Sringeri, Kumsi, Shivamogga (second one), Kukke Subrahmanya, Tallur and Mulki.
While 32 sub-divisions are equipped with an emergency response team with vehicles and personnel as of now, all sub-divisions would have this provision in the near future, he said.
Centralised system : MD Chikkananjappa said MESCOM is in the process of setting up a centralised grievance redressal system to address consumer woes. Though 1912, the centralised power grievance redress system is functional under Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM), the same is yet to be implemented by MESCOM. The system would be in place by June 15 or latest by July first week and the office would be located at Kadri in the city.
The process would be outsourced and the consumer would be intimated about the action within a specified timeframe, he said. MESCOM was able to convince the government that computers cannot replace broken electricity poles or lay cables and got sanction for recruitment of linesmen. About 300 assistant and 1,990 junior linesmen have already been recruited strengthening the base of the company, he said.
The company is in the process of recruiting another 500 personnel, including assistant engineers, junior engineers, assistant accounts officers, junior assistants and graduate assistants. More than 1.09 lakh applications have been received online for these posts.