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Tag:  Shrikant Sharma

  • Persuade consumers pay bills as UP power corp losses mount to Rs 90,000 crore: Minister Shrikant Sharma to officials

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: With the UP power corporation running into losses to the tune of a whopping Rs 90,000 crore, state Power Minister Shrikant Sharma on Thursday asked officials to persuade consumers to pay their pending bills.

    Alarmed over the mounting losses, Sharma, however, maintained that the snapping of power connections is not a solution.

    “In such a situation, powermen should knock doors of consumers, whose bills are pending, and persuade them for payments. Snapping connection is not an alternative, this should be kept in mind,” the minister said according to a statement.

    At a meeting with officials, the minister directed them to ensure uninterrupted power supply to consumers in summer and make necessary preparations by March 31 in this regard.

    He asked the officials to work on a 100-day plan for improvement.

    Sharma asked senior officials to review the “summer plan” and work on proposals from people’s representatives.

    He also directed to give the facility of bill payment to people in their villages and localities through Jan Suvidha Kendras, self-help groups and ration shops.

  • STF to probe complaints of irregularities in electricity bills: UP Power Minister Shrikant Sharma

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Power Minister Shrikant Sharma on Monday expressed concern over complaints of irregularities in electricity bills and said the Special Task Force (STF) of UP Police would probe into them.

    “Several complaints from different parts of the state have been received about irregularities in electricity bills and the government has taken a serious note of it,” a spokesman said quoting the minister.

    Sharma, who conducted a surprise inspection of a powerhouse in Gomti Nagar area, also said that a decision has been taken to ask the STF to probe the issue and a request in this regard has been made to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

    Expressing dissatisfaction over wrong billing and other anomalies, the minister also directed to take action against the billing agency after lodging a case, the spokesman said.

    Consumers want to pay their bills, but for that, they have to get their bills on time.

    It is only when proper bills are provided to consumers on time that the department would be able to work on reducing its losses and realize its commitment of providing power at reasonable rates, he added.

    Sharma also asked to ensure that consumers get downloadable bills from March.