GUWAHATI, Aug 4 � Expressing concern over the deterioration in the power scenario in the State despite the hike in power tariff time and again, Save Guwahati Build Guwahati (SGBG) today called for an impartial probe into the anomalies plaguing the functioning of the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) and its successor companies.
In a statement, SGBG said that the people had been made to pay at very high rates against the poor quality and quantity of power they are getting. Besides, there have been various allegations about the deficient and unprofessional manner of functioning of the ASEB, resulting in huge losses, it said.
�The only argument of the ASEB has been that it does not have any alternative but to hike power tariff under the prevailing situation, which is not very convincing given the fact that the common consumers have sincerely been paying their power bills. There are allegations from the public that the Board has failed to check rampant power theft besides mounting transmission and distribution (T&D) losses, and is simply passing the burden of its own inefficiency on to the people. In view of all this, we want the Government to make a thorough probe into all the aspects concerning power supply,� it said.
Pointing out that there had been three hikes in power tariff three times within a year even as the overall power scenario was deteriorating, SGBG said that in spite of repeated announcements and pledges, the power sector was going from bad to worse.
�As against a requirement of 1,200 MW of power in the State, our production is a meagre 250 MW. The negligent attitude of the power authorities is causing an alarming situation in the State. People want things to change for the better,� SGBG said.
