Lucknow. Central officials of Vidyut Karmachari Sanyukta Sangharsh Samiti have said that the so-called “vertical system” of electricity distribution, implemented in various cities of the state including the capital Lucknow as part of the steps taken by the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation management towards privatization, is proving to be a complete failure. Calling this a direct evidence of the management’s “policy paralysis”, the Sangharsh Committee has demanded to end this system immediately and restore the earlier integrated and effective system.
The Sangharsh Committee said that the vertical model was implemented with the aim of adapting the electricity distribution system that had been operating smoothly and effectively for years to privatization. In the process, a large number of regular posts were abolished and thousands of contractual employees were relieved, resulting in a serious adverse impact on the efficiency, reliability and accountability of the power system.
The Sangharsh Committee said that this impractical division of technical and commercial work has not only weakened the maintenance system, but revenue collection is also not happening at the expected level. The situation has become so serious that at many places the engineers and technical staff engaged in the maintenance of 11 KV and 33 KV lines and sub-stations are also being employed in non-technical work like revenue collection. This is having an adverse effect on the safe and timely maintenance of the power system. The Sangharsh Committee warned that if the current situation is not improved immediately, then the electricity distribution system of the state may get into serious trouble during the increasing electricity demand, due to which crores of consumers will have to bear the direct consequences.
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