The Ukhrul Division of the Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (MSPDCL) is facing a significant challenge in meeting its monthly power tariff revenue target. Despite concerted efforts, the district continues to experience a substantial deficit, falling short by 50%, or more, of the targeted mark.
Reliable sources from the Division confirmed that a power tariff revenue goal of ₹ 80 Lakhs is set for the Division on a monthly basis. However, despite their efforts, the Division has only been able to collect a maximum of ₹ 40 Lakhs in certain months and even less in others. “This often results in a significant deficit of approximately 50% of the overall target each month,” said the sources.
Contributing Factors
Power theft and tampering of prepaid power metre box are believed to be the prime reasons for the significant revenue deficits in the division. Owing to these illegal activities, the MSPDCL has been facing huge financial losses, impacting the overall development and functioning of the division.
Power theft is the unauthorized consumption of electricity without paying for it. It includes various forms such as tapping into power lines, using tampered meters, and manipulating the prepaid power metre box. In simple terms, power theft is stealing electricity, which is a criminal offence.
While power theft and tampering of prepaid power metre boxes are illegal, these activities are primarily driven by the high cost of electricity and frequent outages. The people in Ukhrul, especially in the rural areas, are struggling with poverty and cannot afford the high electricity tariffs. As a result, they resort to stealing electricity instead of paying for it.
The MSPDCL has been taking proactive measures to curb power theft, but the problem persists due to various factors.
In a bid to combat power theft and ensure fair distribution of electricity, the Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (MSPDCL) recently issued a notification urging all hill divisions to intensify efforts. However, the MSPDCL Ukhrul division faces a significant hurdle in implementing these directives due to a chronic shortage of manpower.
Manpower Shortage
Despite efforts to address the issue, the MSPDCL Ukhrul division continues to grapple with a shortage of essential personnel, hampering its ability to detect and tackle power theft effectively. This shortage not only affects routine operations but also undermines the division’s capacity to conduct intensive raids against illegal connections, the sources revealed.
Various factors contribute to the manpower crisis, including retirement, delayed recruitment, non-replacement of staff, and frequent transfers. The overburdening of existing employees leads to decreased productivity and efficiency, exacerbating the division’s operational challenges.
Operational Constraints
This shortage of staff is affecting the division’s ability to serve its approximately 17,000 electricity consumers. It is estimated that around 15,000 of these consumers are pre-paid users under the division’s jurisdiction. This includes the entire Ukhrul district headquarters, as well as the northern region of Ukhrul up to Jessami and the western region, except for Teinem, Phalee, Ringui, and Lamlang villages which fall under the Litan power substation.
The scarcity of staff has resulted in a backlog of consumer complaints and delays in resolving technical issues related to power distribution. With limited resources, the division struggles to cover its entire jurisdiction, allowing instances of meter tampering and illegal connections to go undetected.
Vacant Positions
Key positions remain unfilled, including assistant linemen, linemen, section officers, and meter readers, further exacerbating the division’s manpower deficit. Contract workers handle some responsibilities, but their numbers are insufficient to meet operational demands effectively.
According to an official source, out of the total of 104 sanctioned positions of assistant linemen, only one post is filled but has been posted in Imphal since last year. For 34 linemen positions none have been filled so far. Moreover, only four out of the five sanctioned head linemen positions have been occupied.
The situation is not any better for Section Officer Grade I and II positions. Out of the 14 sanctioned positions for Grade I officers, there are currently no staff members. Similarly, out of four sanctioned positions for Grade II officers, only one is currently filled.
The source also highlighted the shortage of engine operators and meter readers. Out of the nine sanctioned positions for engine operators, only two are being utilized. The situation is even worse for meter readers as there are currently no employees for the four sanctioned positions.
As a result of these vacant positions, the division is struggling to handle its responsibilities efficiently. Only a small number of contract workers, including eight assistant meter readers, three assistant linemen, and two drivers, are managing the workload.
