STF to probe billing irregularities in state, says energy minister
LUCKNOW: Energy minister Shrikant Sharma on Monday said he would get all billing irregularities in the state probed by Special Task Force (STF).
He made this announcement while talking to media persons here after making a surprise inspection of the Mantri Avas power sub-station in Gomti Nagar.
“I have already requested the chief minister to ask the STF to probe irregularities related to billing,” he said.
He said complaints about the billing kept on coming and a high-level probe was must to find out any possible complicity of the staff and punish them accordingly. He alleged rampant irregularities and corruption in billing.
The minister also ordered FIR against the billing agency on finding billing complaints and lack of 100% downloadable bills under the Mantri Avas substation and asked officials to get all the payments made to billing agencies audited.
“Consumer is the king in the energy department and we cannot allow any compromise on their interests,” he said adding that as per the agreement the management was to ensure 97% downloadable billing in 12 months in rural areas and in 8 months in urban areas.
“But this is less than 10% in two years because of which a lot of billing complaints are coming,” Sharma said.
He directed MDs to ensure that by March 31 all consumers get downloadable bills only and not ‘table bills’ (estimated bills prepared without reading meter) at all. He said consumers wanted to pay their bills on time provided they got correct bill on time.