CONSUMERS’ BODY TO FILE CONTEMPT CASE AGAINST LESA OFFICIALS

LUCKNOW: Chairman of the UP power consumers’ association Avadhesh Varma has decided to file a contempt case against Lucknow Electricity Supply Administration (LESA) on a complaint of a consumer who alleged that LESA officials harassed him by pressurising to increase electricity load illegally and allegedly fudging the inquiry report.

Brajesh Mishra, who is constructing first floor of his house at Rajajipuram, said that LESA officials harassed him for not taking second connection or increasing the electricity load, which was not required. “I have already a power connection of 2 KW, but I was penalised wrongly by LESA JE and AE, stating that I require one more power connection for construction of another portion of my house. The power load never crossed 1 kw. But, officials kept harassing me,” he alleged.

Fed up with this, Mishra approached minister of energy Shrikant Sharma and he ordered an inquiry into the matter. “However, the official (chief engineer, commercial) who conducted the inquiry into the case, fudged the report just to save their JE and AE, and filed the report stating that 90% of the house was constructed from the plinth level, which was not true,” said Varma.

Association chairman said, “I will file a contempt case for violation of tariff under section 142 of the Electricity Act 2003 of Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission. I will highlight the forgery committed by LESA officials against its consumer and will also make it sure that the chief engineer, who gave wrong report to misguide the minister, gets terminated.”

Varma said that he had already brought the matter to the notice of minister of energy Shrikant Sharma. “He is also unhappy with the conduct of higher official,” he added.

A CONSUMER ALLEGED THAT LESA OFFICIALS PRESSURISED HIM TO INCREASE POWER LOAD AND FUDGED THE INQUIRY REPORT