KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur, May 26: Over 250 households in the Mango division of the Jharkhand Bijli Vitaran Nigam Ltd (JBNVL) are forced to face the scorching heat due to the whims of the assistant engineer and junior engineer in charge.
What makes the matter more grievous is that the fancy of these techies not only force the 250 plus house to live in an inhumane condition but also takes a toll on the JBVNL’s revenue.
As per the power discom’s norms, an applicant for a new power connection is supposed to be provided with the connection within a week of applying online for the same. But there are instances of such applications lying unattended since December 2020.
Shivjee Pandey, resident of Baliguma under the Dimna section of the Mango division had applied for a new connection on December 9, 2020. But though 530 days have elapsed, Pandey has not been provided with the power connection despite running from pillar to post in the JBVNL offices concerned.
In the Track Status of the applicant having application No 247013268, it was found that the application has been forwarded to the junior engineer for site verification.
A disgruntled Pandey, when contacted, said “There is a system in which unless the palm of the engineer concerned is not greased such work will not get through and I am not among those who pay extra money for a government-sponsored beneficial. “
Like Pandey, scores of people residing at places including Baliguma, Bhilaipahadi, Barabanki, Dimna and Sankosai are looking forward to the power connection having applied online for a long time, but have not got it as yet.
Some of the applicants tend to run their households by resorting to tapping power from service lines illegally, thus putting their lives at risk.
The new power connection is approved by the assistant engineer after the site verification report is submitted by the junior engineer. As the application is to be made online only, the JBVNL has fixed seven days for providing a new connection from the date of application.
General manager-cum-chief engineer, JBVNL’s Singhbhum area board, P Kumar under whose jurisdiction the Dimna section falls could not be contacted for his comment on the issue, but chairman-cum-managing director, JBVNL Avinash Kumar was available for the same.
“The matter related to new connection should be given utmost priority by the department as it involves the revenue aspect beside the welfare of the people, ” said Kumar, adding that he will see to it that the applicants for new connection are entertained as per the department’s norms.
