This would be done in three state-run companies that handle power generation, transmission and distribution
While the establishment of the long delayed anti-corruption ombudsman in the country and the state is still hanging fire, the state electricity utilities in Maharashtra will soon get their version of the Lokpal to crack down on graft, ensure quality control and act on consumer complaints.
"We have started the process of establishing the Lokpal," state energy minister Chandrashekhar Bavankule told dna, adding that this would be done in the three state-run companies that handle power generation, transmission and distribution in Maharashtra. "This is a huge department with a large number of employees and stakeholders, and hence, a forum is need for vigilance, quality control and grievance redressal," he added, stating that the body will also crackdown on corruption.
The proposed ombudsman will have members from sectors like law and accountancy. Senior officials however said that the name of the agency was yet to be finalised.
"The government is planning to do it," said Bavankule, adding that while the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MahaVitaran) had consumer service forums for redressing consumer plaints, and consumer courts existed from the district level onwards, there was no such mechanism at the government's level.
Apart from consumer complaints and grievance redressal, the proposed forum will also handle cases of power theft, quality control and vigilance.
The erstwhile Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) was restructured into four companies namely, the MSEB Holding Company, MahaVitaran, Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MahaGenco) and Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company (MahaTransco) in 2005. This was done after the enactment of the Electricity Act, 2003.
The MahaVitaran supplies power to over 2.20 crore consumers across categories like domestic, agricultural, industries and commercial users across Maharashtra. It also covers parts of Mumbai's eastern suburbs like Mulund and Bhandup.
The state government is planning to further divide the MahaVitaran into region-wise distribution entities. The proposal, which is on lines of the system in states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, will ensure efficiency and streamline administration.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Power")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}