Bhartesh Singh Thakur
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 31
A number of officials of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) are under scanner, as the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) has, suo motu, taken up issues of releasing connections in areas of Gurugram which do not have adequate electrical infrastructure, wrong billing and officials not maintaining headquarters.
The Commission, under Chairman RK Pachnanda and Member Naresh Sardana, has been summoning top officials of both discoms on a regular basis on these issues. In the matter of the release of the electricity connections in Gurugram, despite inadequate electrical infrastructure and non-submission of requisite bank guarantee by the developers, the Commission, in its order dated December 28, observed that the DHBVN has issued chargesheet to “23 delinquent officers/officials”. The DHBVN submitted that “action shall be taken as per Punishment and Appeal Rules of Nigam after the receipt of the reply from the delinquent officials”.
The builders are required to create electrical infrastructure and seek approval for an electrification plan from discom or submit a bank guarantee in case of phase-wise development of electrical infrastructure in the area to be developed. But, a total of 1,019 connections were issued.
In the case of the wrong billing of Rs 77 lakh to a Panchkula resident, three officials of UHBVN are chargesheeted and final notices have been issued for their replies.
In another case of wrong billing of National Fertilisers Employees Co-operative House Building Society Ltd, Panipat, Director Operations, UHBVN, SK Bansal, submitted before the Commission that chargesheets have been issued to 14 officials and an inquiry officer has been appointed to conduct a regular departmental inquiry. After completion of the inquiry, action as per the Punishment and Appeal Rules will be taken.
The Director (Operations) UHBVN had also submitted that the explanation of seven officials of the rank of Superintending Engineer or Executive Engineer had already been called upon and the action against the SDOs concerned, who had not maintained headquarters, was being taken.
On the matter of officials not maintaining headquarters, Director (Operations) DHBVN RK Sodha had submitted before the Commission on November 11 that 17 officials were not maintaining headquarters, and action against them was being initiated.